Marlene Vanderheiden

Marlene Vanderheiden, 88 of Carroll, died Friday, August 21, 2026 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. A visitation will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a prayer service at 5 p.m. led by Fr. Lynn Bruch. Private family burial will be at a later date in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Animal Rescue of Carroll. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Marlene’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. The family expresses their gratitude for your many kindnesses and your attendance at Marlene’s services. You are all invited to join us at the Moose Lodge for food and beverages starting at 5:30pm. Marlene Ann was born on January 3, 1938, in Pontiac, Michigan, the daughter of John and Cleora Maun. At the age of six, she moved to Auburn, Iowa, to live with her aunt and uncle, Margaret and Ralph Rauch, and later graduated from Auburn Community School. Marlene married in December 1956 and had eight children, devoting much of those years to raising and caring for her family. On July 3, 1971, she was united in marriage to Michael Vanderheiden, and together Marlene and Mike welcomed two additional children, completing their family of ten. Marlene was best known for cleaning houses in the Carroll area, where she served several clients faithfully for many years until her retirement. She also worked at G.E. and Paul and Wayne’s and operated an in-home childcare, but most of her time and energy were devoted to caring for her ten children. She loved welcoming people into her home to visit, share a drink, and enjoy her famous macaroni salad, which her children looked forward to every time they came home. Marlene treasured time with her husband, Mike, their dog Dallas, and the children and grandchildren who were the highlight of her days. She looked forward to every holiday when family would come together to sit, laugh, and talk. She loved large and unconditionally. She was the one we all went to when we needed advice. Tuesday nights at the house were a day she loved when everyone would come over for the night to just sit and laugh. She was “Mom” to everyone who walked in the door. She was the rock and glue of the family, and all who loved her will miss her dearly while cherishing every day spent in her orbit. Marlene is survived by her husband, Michael of Carroll; her children: Connie (Keith) Lauridsen of Norfolk, Nebraska; Joan Schulte of Carroll; Randy Schulte of Auburn; Cindy Hacker (JD De Jong) of Carroll; Terry Schulte of Carroll; Julie Schmidt of Audubon; Coleen Schulte-Serfoss of Austin, Texas; Joel Schulte (Heather) of Carroll; Michele Vanderheiden of Des Moines; and Marty Vanderheiden (Jodi) of Carroll; 19 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. Marlene was preceded in death by her parents, John Maun and his wife, Ann Maun, and Cleora Gries and her husband, Ed Gries; her parents-in-law, George and Rose Vanderheiden; her sisters, Maxine (Richard) Bauer and Darlene (Dennis) Wiederin; her brothers, Gerald Smith and Kirk Rauch; her aunt and uncle, Margaret and Ralph Rauch; her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Vanderheiden, Mary Vanderheiden, and Karen Vanderheiden; her brothers-in-law, Donald Vanderheiden and Larry Vanderheiden; and her grandchildren, Nick Bock and Michael Schmidt.

Marlene Vanderheiden

January 3, 1938 - August 21, 2026