Marvella Jean Protexter (Christians)

Marvella Jean Protexter, 81, of Sioux City died a determined, strong willed and persevering lady on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Grace United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Valerie Heller officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel.

Marvella was born Feb. 12, 1926, in Little Rock, Iowa, to Albert and Irene (Anderson) Christians. She was raised in Little Rock and graduated from Little Rock High School in 1943. She attended Morningside College in Sioux City for several years.

She married Donald Protexter on Aug. 31, 1946, in Little Rock. After they were married, they moved to Sioux City and lived at the Sioux City Airbase, while he attended Morningside College. After Donald's graduation, they moved to Gruver, Iowa, for two years and then to Albert City, Iowa. In 1955, they returned to Sioux City with their final move as Donald took a position as a professor of economics and business and as the head baseball coach for Morningside College. Donald died in 1983.

In addition to caring for her whole family, she took special care of her son, Tim, for 33 years from 1952 until he died in 1985. She then traveled twice a week to Little Rock and Sibley, Iowa, to care for her mother until she died in 1987. She then began working at the Commons at Morningside College until she fell ill in 2003. Never losing her will, she regained her physical strength and returned to work for the 2004-2005 school year.

She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, P.E.O., Miericles, the Morningside Alumni Association and was involved in the M-Club at Morningside College. She enjoyed attending Morningside athletic events and had been the number one fan of Morningside College baseball since 1955. She had been a Sioux City Explorer s season ticket holder since the inaugural season in 1993. In 2000, she served as the Grand Marshal for the Morningside Day's Parade. She loved entertaining family and friends. She enjoyed hosting dinners for Morningside College students, athletes and staff. She also loved spending time at her cabin at Lake Okoboji since 1984.

She is survived by three sons, Mark and his wife, Deb, Dan and his wife, Nancy and Bobby, all of Sioux City; nine grandchildren, Jennifer and Holli Protexter, Danielle of the University of Iowa, Ned, Laurel, Joe, Julia, Jake and Nate Protexter; and a brother-in-law and his wife, Jerry and Rose Protextor of Denver, Colo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Tim; a brother-in-law, Robert Protextor; a sister, Alva Christians; and a brother, Donald Christians.