Mari Molseed

Mari J. Molseed, 67, of West Union, Iowa, died Friday, March 2, 2018, at her home in West Union. 

Mari, the daughter of Harry and Delphine (Germann) Watembach, was born June 14, 1950, in Beach, N.D., lived in Wibaux, Mont., and later moved to Ipswich, S.D. 

She earned her B.A. from Northern State College in Aberdeen, S.D.; her master’s at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D.; and her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, in August 1990.  

Mari was a professor of sociology and criminology at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. She retired in 2015.

She loved to travel with her children and grandchildren. 

Mari played piano, guitar, bassoon and other instruments. After excelling in Piano Guild, she switched to playing guitar for her most appreciative audience – her son, John Halsey Molseed, and her daughter, Megan K. Molseed. She enjoyed listening to classical, folk, Appalachian folk and bluegrass music, and she could appreciate a good pop rock-and-roll song if it caught her in the right mood. “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses was known to up her pool game.

Mari is survived by her two children, son John Molseed and his wife, Amy Garretson, of Waterloo, Iowa, and daughter Megan Molseed of West Union, Iowa; three grandchildren, Morganne Elizabeth Molseed, Marshall J. Opperman, and Mikah Grace Opperman; two sisters, Rita Gauer-Stubble of Brandon, S.D., and Karen Watembach of Sheridan, Wyo.; sister-in-law Rose Watembach; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Mari was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Delphine; a sister, Denise Watembach; and a brother, Jim Watembach.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2018, at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home in West Union, Iowa.

Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Services of West Union, Iowa, is assisting the family with arrangements.    11u11