Marilyn J. (Scheckel) Clasen, 88, of Bellevue, passed away peacefully at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque on February 18, 2026. 

Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 am, Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bellevue.  Visitation will be held 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Friday, February 27, 2026 at Hachmann-Mier Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Bellevue, additional visitation will be held 9:00 am – 10:00 am prior to Mass at the funeral home.  Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Bellevue.

Marilyn was born March 15, 1937, in Bellevue to Odelo and Ila (Herrig) Scheckel and grew up on the family farm west of town. She attended country day school until 8th grade as the only student in her class, then entered St. Joseph High School where she graduated in 1955. While in high school she was the editor of the school newspaper and won awards for poetry. On May 11, 1957, she married Merlin “Pete” Clasen at St. Joseph Catholic Church. 

Marilyn was a stay-at-home mother for 21 years and then started a career at the Bellevue Herald-Leader (and sister publication Maquoketa Sentinel-Press), working in every aspect of newspaper production, eventually becoming the office manager and the author of the Herald-Leader’s Simply Delicious food column. 

Throughout the years, Marilyn volunteered her time in different roles and was a member of several community organizations including St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph Rosary Society, St. Joseph Parish Council, Knights of Columbus Auxiliary #1354, American Legion Auxiliary, Marquette School Board, Boy Scouts and Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. In 2016, the chamber recognized her as Volunteer of the Year. 

Most remember Marilyn as a talented seamstress who crafted impeccably tailored clothing and costumes for her family and others in the area. Her favorite places to go were the fabric store and sitting in front of her Singer sewing machine late at night to complete a sewing project. 

Marilyn also was an exceptional cook and baker, a skill that led friends and neighbors to often knock on her door and ask her what she was cooking. She turned her talents for baking and eye for decorating into a mini-custom cake business, creating orders for baptisms, birthdays, graduations, weddings and other special events.

While managing a household of 11, a full-time job, Marilyn found time to instill a strong work ethic and sense of creativity in her children. She was extraordinarily resourceful and worked magic with her hands in all aspects of her life.    

 Marilyn was an avid sports fan too and loved that her birth month coincided with the Iowa High School State Basketball Tournaments and March Madness. She and Pete liked to attend their kids and grandkids diverse activities, play cards, take Sunday drives and travel to such places as California, Arizona, Vermont, New York, Texas, New Mexico and Florida to visit family and friends.  

Those left to honor Marilyn include her husband Pete of 68 years, children Barb (Tim) Daugherty, Doug (Flo) Clasen, Michael Clasen, Sally Clasen, Tom (Tracy) Clasen, Paul   (Mary) Clasen, Mary Beth Clasen, Anne (Steve) Frett and James (Sara) Clasen; 16 grandchildren, Vanessa (Jay) DuBois, Kate (Dave) Small, Luke (Laura Slivka) Daugherty, Paige (Zach) Schroeder, Madeline Murray-Clasen, Emma Murray-Clasen, Alec (Christina) Clasen, Noah Clasen, Megan Clasen, Brittany (Nathan Glunz) Clasen, Josh Clasen, Zach (Laura) Frett, Isaac (Carolyn) Frett, Logan (Lexi Day), Abigail and Ryan, and 10 great-grandchildren. 

In addition, Marilyn is survived by siblings and in-laws Pat (Gerald) Meis, Lou Ann Scheckel, David Scheckel, Bonnie (Butch) Coakley, Ruth (Dick) Hopson, Tom Scheckel, Jane (Ron) Nemmers, Pauline Wagener and Lela Roiger. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Odelo and Ila, brothers Donnie and Wayne Scheckel, sister Judy Scheckel, infant siblings Steven and Mary Ellen, and in-laws Pat, Julie and Carol Scheckel, Virtus and Marilyn (Sieverding) Clasen, Alvin “Slim” and Mary Ann Clasen, Bernadine Nefzger (Arthur Goldsmith and Edward Nefzger), Jim and Mary Ellen Kirk, LeRoy Wagener, Dennis Hines and Cliff Roiger. 

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of the memory care unit at Stonehill Care Center, Hospice of Dubuque, UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital and the Bellevue Ambulance Services for their care and support. 

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.hachmannfuneralhome.com