Marvin Lee Grimm, 81, of Oskaloosa, died Monday, December 29, 2025, at the Stone Cottages in Sigourney. He was born August 25, 1944, the son of Virgil and Ethel Churchill Grimm. He graduated from Deep River – Millersburg High School with the class of 1962. While attending East Iowa Bible Camp in Deep River, Iowa, he met his wife Jeanne Wiley, the two of them were married on June 12, 1965. To this union four children were born, Tracy, Julie, Bobbie, and Kelly. Marvin served in the Army National Guard from 1963-1969. In addition to serving in the Guard, Marvin worked on the family farm near Millersburg with his dad and brother, Larry. He purchased the farm from his father and owned and operated the farm where he raised livestock and crops until 1989. He was a great steward of the land and belonged to many agriculture related organizations throughout his career. After moving off the farm, he worked at the co-op in Conroy for a few years. Marvin was a man with a strong faith; he was active at the Community Church in Millersburg where he served in several capacities. While living in Oskaloosa he enjoyed attending Calvary Bible Church. The East Iowa Bible Camp held a special place in Marvin’s heart; he was proud of the fact that his father Virgil Grimm donated the land that created the original camp. The family gave countless hours to help get the camp started, helped build the chapel in 1980 and later gave additional land so the camp could expand. They prayed over the kids and families that attended camp and gave their lives to Christ. They lived in Amana for 30 years and Marvin loved being outside tending to his property and mowing. He had a pond built at their home that served as a place of great joy for Marvin. He had the pond stocked with fish that he fed daily and loved having family and friends come to fish and fellowship on their property. He loved sports, especially cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
His family includes his four children and their spouses, Tracy and Michael Majerle of Carlton, Minnesota, Julie and Todd Sarver of Oskaloosa, Bobbie and Matt Barnhart of Cedar Rapids, and Kelly and April Grimm of Tiffin; eleven grandchildren, Chris (Ellie) Majerle, Kyle (Kailee) Majerle, Cari (Shawn) Fopma, Amy (Logan) Hart, Megan Grissom, Miranda (Paul) McElroy, Dylan (Quynh) Grissom, Shelby (Dan) Ackerman, MacKenzie (Tad) Hamilton, Garrett Grimm, and Logan Grimm; eighteen great grandchildren, Ryia and Saige Majerle, Drake, Ella, and Hailee Majerle, Addison Sarver, Leah and Paisley Hart, Aubree and Kinley Fopma, Victoria McElroy, Olivia Grissom, Hailie King, Jase Ackerman, Cameron Grimm, Scarlett Hamilton, and two on the way; two brothers, Leroy (Shirley) Grimm and Larry (Louise) Grimm.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Ian Barnhart; a sister, Phyllis (Dean) Wright; and two brothers, Laverne (Gerry) Grimm and Kenneth (Karen) Grimm.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the Calvary Bible Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Dr. Douglas Smiley officiating. As was Marvin’s wish his body will be cremated. Burial of the urn will be at a later date in the Community Cemetery, Deep River. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation with the family present will be Thursday, January 1, 2026, from 4-6 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa. Memorials may be made to the East Iowa Bible Camp.
