Marvin Henry Thraen
March 19, 1937 — October 13, 2023
Marvin Henry Thraen was born on March 19, 1937 on a farm southwest of Irwin, Iowa, the oldest son of Andrew and Mary (Schleimer) Thraen. Marvin was baptized at St. Mary Church in Portsmouth.
In 1946, the family moved to the farm southeast of Kirkman. Marvin attended school in Kirkman graduating with the class of 1954. Marvin joked with his grandchildren that he was both the valedictorian and salutation of his small class.
After high school, Marvin worked on the farm for Edwin Olson. In 1958, Marvin enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp being stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California. He was honorably discharged in 1960 as a Private First Class. He was extremely proud of military service and the expert rifleman medallion he earned as having the best shooting score out of three battalions. Even after nearly 70 years, he could still remember the serial number of the M1 Garand he was issued while in the Marines. After returning home, he again farmed with Edwin Olson until starting his own farming operation.
On November 26, 1960, Marvin was married to Joyce Koster at St. Michael Church in Harlan, where they would continue to be members for the rest of their lives. They quickly became the parents of Pamela, Michael, Denise, James, and Patty. Marvin and Joyce worked together on the farm for the rest of their lives. They were members of a monthly card club for over 50 years together with friends and neighbors. Shortly after he and Joyce married, Marvin started tractor pulling and traveled throughout various states throughout the country for many years winning countless trophies. His first big win was the Iowa State Fair in 1964. Marvin enjoyed car races beginning at the Shelby County Speedway (where he and Joyce both worked many Saturday nights) to NASCAR. He looked forward to pheasant hunting and fishing trips with his children and grandchildren. Marvin was an excellent mechanic and could diagnose and fix any vehicle or piece of farm equipment, including the occasional "loose nut behind the wheel".
In addition to farming, Marvin worked at Wigness Machine Shop and Sta-Bilt Construction in Harlan. In 1999, after receiving a liver transplant, Marvin partially retired and drove truck and bus for several businesses. After he completely retired, he would spend his time at coffee with his friends, driving out to the farm, and, most importantly, attending many of his grandchildren's events and activities. He was extremely proud that all of his grandchildren graduated from college.
Marvin passed away on October 13, 2023 in Harlan, Iowa, having reached the age of 86 years, 6 months, and 24 days. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years, Joyce, on July 20, 2020, his parents Andrew and Mary, in-laws William and Loretta Koster, daughter-in-law Sonja Thraen, brother Howard Thraen, brothers-in-law Charles Leuck, Robert Koster, Roy (Jim) Goraczkowski, and Sylvan Klein, and sisters-in-laws Donna Thraen, Madonna Goraczkowski, and Emelie Koster.
He is survived by his children Pam (Bill) Clark of Omaha, Mike (Laura) Thraen of Harlan, Denise (Scott) Lickteig of Auburn, Nebraska, Jim (Ella Malone) of Irwin, and Patty (Brent) Branning of Denison, his grandchildren Bobby and David Clark, Maxine and Henry Lickteig, Joseph (Katie) and Jacob Thraen, and Sarah and Ryan Branning, and a great-grandson Koe, his brothers Kenny Thraen and Gary (Julie) Thraen, sister-in-law Carole Thraen, sisters-in-law Betty Leuck, Bonnie Klein, and brothers-in-law Kenny (Judy) Koster, Dean (Kathy) Koster, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends.
In 1946, the family moved to the farm southeast of Kirkman. Marvin attended school in Kirkman graduating with the class of 1954. Marvin joked with his grandchildren that he was both the valedictorian and salutation of his small class.
After high school, Marvin worked on the farm for Edwin Olson. In 1958, Marvin enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp being stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California. He was honorably discharged in 1960 as a Private First Class. He was extremely proud of military service and the expert rifleman medallion he earned as having the best shooting score out of three battalions. Even after nearly 70 years, he could still remember the serial number of the M1 Garand he was issued while in the Marines. After returning home, he again farmed with Edwin Olson until starting his own farming operation.
On November 26, 1960, Marvin was married to Joyce Koster at St. Michael Church in Harlan, where they would continue to be members for the rest of their lives. They quickly became the parents of Pamela, Michael, Denise, James, and Patty. Marvin and Joyce worked together on the farm for the rest of their lives. They were members of a monthly card club for over 50 years together with friends and neighbors. Shortly after he and Joyce married, Marvin started tractor pulling and traveled throughout various states throughout the country for many years winning countless trophies. His first big win was the Iowa State Fair in 1964. Marvin enjoyed car races beginning at the Shelby County Speedway (where he and Joyce both worked many Saturday nights) to NASCAR. He looked forward to pheasant hunting and fishing trips with his children and grandchildren. Marvin was an excellent mechanic and could diagnose and fix any vehicle or piece of farm equipment, including the occasional "loose nut behind the wheel".
In addition to farming, Marvin worked at Wigness Machine Shop and Sta-Bilt Construction in Harlan. In 1999, after receiving a liver transplant, Marvin partially retired and drove truck and bus for several businesses. After he completely retired, he would spend his time at coffee with his friends, driving out to the farm, and, most importantly, attending many of his grandchildren's events and activities. He was extremely proud that all of his grandchildren graduated from college.
Marvin passed away on October 13, 2023 in Harlan, Iowa, having reached the age of 86 years, 6 months, and 24 days. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years, Joyce, on July 20, 2020, his parents Andrew and Mary, in-laws William and Loretta Koster, daughter-in-law Sonja Thraen, brother Howard Thraen, brothers-in-law Charles Leuck, Robert Koster, Roy (Jim) Goraczkowski, and Sylvan Klein, and sisters-in-laws Donna Thraen, Madonna Goraczkowski, and Emelie Koster.
He is survived by his children Pam (Bill) Clark of Omaha, Mike (Laura) Thraen of Harlan, Denise (Scott) Lickteig of Auburn, Nebraska, Jim (Ella Malone) of Irwin, and Patty (Brent) Branning of Denison, his grandchildren Bobby and David Clark, Maxine and Henry Lickteig, Joseph (Katie) and Jacob Thraen, and Sarah and Ryan Branning, and a great-grandson Koe, his brothers Kenny Thraen and Gary (Julie) Thraen, sister-in-law Carole Thraen, sisters-in-law Betty Leuck, Bonnie Klein, and brothers-in-law Kenny (Judy) Koster, Dean (Kathy) Koster, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends.
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