Marlyn James Flater, 87, of Waterloo, formerly of Grundy Center, passed away on Wednesday, January 11th 2017 at the Country View Nursing Home in Waterloo. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 17th at 1:00 PM at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center with Dan Munson officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the funeral home. The burial will follow the funeral service at the Rosehill Cemetery in Grundy Center with immediate family present. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Marlyn was born on October 23, 1929 in rural Grundy County, Iowa, the son of Ben & Lulu (Conners) Flater. He was raised in rural Grundy County, where he attended country school at Colfax #6. On February 20, 1952, Marlyn was united in marriage to Reka Seehusen at the Colfax Center Presbyterian Church in rural Holland, IA. The couple was just shy of celebrating their 65th Wedding Anniversary, in which he so hoped to celebrate.
He began his working career at the Iowa Department of Transportation then went on to work for John Deere in Waterloo. He later owned and operated his own trucking business, Flater Trucking, where he hauled sheep and hogs. His most recent employment was working for the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls as a heavy equipment operator, retiring after 16 years of service.
Marlyn was a former member of the Colfax Center Presbyterian Church in Holland and current member of Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls, where he served as an usher. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and he will be remembered
for always having a smile on his face.
He is survived by his beloved wife Reka of Waterloo; sister Mary Lou (Bob) Grimmius of Grundy Center; sister-in-law Eunice Flater of Lake City, MN; 4 nieces Debra (Curtis) Braun of Waterloo, Diane (David) Lewis of Waterloo, Terri (Jeff) Simms and Pam (Curt) Mauer, both of Grundy Center and 2 nephews Larry (Dianna) Flater of Lake City, MN and James (Linda) Flater of Philadelphia, PA; many great and great-great-nieces and nephews. Marlyn is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Ivan and Darrel Flater.