Marvin J. Cates

Rockwell City Marvin J. Cates 74, passed away Saturday, October 8, 2022 at his home south of Rockwell City, surrounded by his family, following a short battle with cancer. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 13, 2022 at Palmer & Swank Funeral Home, Rockwell City, with Rev. Fred Lehman officiating. Burial of casket will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery, near Auburn. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the funeral home. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family. Marvin is survived by his wife Sherry; sons, Jeff Cates of Rockwell City and Jon (Amanda) Cates of Lima, NY; daughter Janelle (Jerredd) Elken of Jefferson; stepson Dan Thompson of Rockwell City; stepdaughter Michelle (Rich) Brown of Rockwell City; 18 grandchildren, Gage and Menley Cates of Rockwell City, Brandon Cates of St. Cloud, MN, Myren Keller and Mara Elken of Jefferson, Abrey, Kinnick, and Louden Cates of Lima, NY, Ryan, Patrick and Eric Brown of Rockwell City, Danielle Thompson of Early, Cassi Thompson of Carroll, Kyli and Cody Thompson of Rockwell City, Sonya (Brown) Holmgaard of Lake City, Tonia (Brown) Popp of Lake View; Christian Balke Thompson of Farnhamville; 18 great-grandchildren, brother Donnie Cates of Auburn; sister Pat (Steve) Gosch of Sac City; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife Marla (Foster) Cates; son Jamie Cates; his parents, Harlan and Flossie (Ludwig) Cates; stepson Bill Thompson; and daughter-in-law Tesa (Blasey) Cates. Marvin John Cates was born November 20, 1947 at Carroll, Iowa. He graduated from St. Bernard Catholic School in Breda, Iowa, with the Class of 1965. On November 21, 1969 he was united in marriage to Marla Jane Foster at St. Marys Catholic Church in Sac City and four children were born to this union, James Joseph "Ponch", Jeffrey Harlan "Murph", Jonathan Eugene "Clink", and Janelle Ranae "Dink". Marvin worked at Weiss Plumbing & Heating for 30 years until his retirement. After the passing of his wife Marla in 1993, Marv was introduced to his current wife Sherry Thompson by her identical twin sister and friend of his late wife, Carol Flickinger. Marv and Sherry were married April 6, 1996 in Rockwell City, where he gained two sons, Dan and Bill Thompson, and a daughter Michelle (Thompson) Brown. Together, Marv and Sherry built their beautiful and blended family. Marv was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed passing on his love for hunting and fishing to his children and grandchildren. SERVICES Funeral Services 10:30 a.m. - Thursday October 13, 2022 Palmer & Swank Funeral Home Rockwell City, Iowa OFFICIATING Rev. Fred Lehman CASKET BEARERS Gage Cates Ryan Brown Myren Keller Patrick Brown Kolten Hildreth Eric Brown Brandon Cates Cody Thompson Honorary Casket Bearers Sonya Holmgaard Tonia Popp Menley Cates Kyli Thompson Cassi Thompson Danielle Thompson Mara Elken Abrey Cates Kinnick Cates Louden Cates VISITATION 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday October 12, 2022 Palmer & Swank Funeral Home Rockwell City, Iowa INTERMENT Oak Lawn Cemetery Auburn, Iowa