April 16, 1958 – July 11, 2025
VISITATION
Friday, July 18, 2025
4:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
Emmetsburg, Iowa
TIME FOR SHARING “MARBLES” STORIES
Friday evening from 5:00 – 6:00 P.M.
Please come and share your favorite memories of Marbles.
SERVICE
Saturday, July 19, 2025
10:30 A.M.
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Emmetsburg, Iowa
CLERGY
Rev. Keith Christiansen
Marlon Lee Wilson, son of Virgil Joseph and Bertha Marie (Marti) Wilson, was born April 16, 1958 in Algona, Iowa. He received his education at St. Peter and Paul Catholic School in West Bend. At a young age, Marlon became known to his family and friends as “Marbles” due to his love of collecting and playing marbles. This nickname remained with him throughout his life.
On June 13, 1980 Marbles married the love of his life, Tammy Angela Flint in Estherville, Iowa. They were blessed with a son and two daughters.
Marbles was employed at Klause Lang Trucking and later Flannegan Construction and Snavely Excavating. He then went to work for Emmetsburg Ready Mix driving the cement truck which he did for several years. Before retiring, Marbles also was employed at Firkins Truckline and GCC.
Marbles was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the 5K Race Team.
Marbles loved life and was a God fearing man. He enjoyed sitting at “the round table” visiting with his friends. He will be remembered for his fabulous smoked meats that he was always willing to share with others, whether for a big event, a small party or just for dinner. Marbles might just show up at your door around dinner time, hand you a pan of freshly smoked meat and say…”Give this a try and let me know what you think.” He liked asparagus hunting and feeding and watching the birds. Marbles was a talented carpenter doing concrete work, making cabinets and flipping houses when he had the chance. He also enjoyed attending area auctions.
Marbles was a fan of Dale Earnhardt and liked to attend dirt track races. He was proud of restoring his 1975 1/2 GMC Jimmy and he could often be found watching the Chicago Bears. Marbles was a coin collector and if you took him shopping with you, he had to walk each and every aisle to be sure there wasn’t something he needed. With all of the things Marbles loved to do in his life, spending time with his grandchildren was his biggest highlight and he cherished every minute he spent with them.
Marbles passed away Friday, July 11, 2025 at the Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg, Iowa, at the age of 67. He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Bertha Wilson; father-in-law, John Manwarren; sisters, Betty Fowler, Marion Wilson Strong, and Gloria Wilson; brothers, Virgil Wilson and John Wilson; son-in-law, Karlos Goldman, II; sisters-in-law, Shirley Wilson and Sharon Wilson; brother-in-law, Thomas Bredehoeft.
He is survived by his wife, Tammy of Emmetsburg, Iowa; his children, Chris (Amy) Wilson of Spencer, Iowa, Nicole Goldman of Des Moines, Iowa and Jennifer (Dustin) Wilson of Maquoketa, Iowa; grandchildren, Makayla Wilson, Dominic (Julia) Jurries, Jeyromy Metho, Jaydra Wilson, Molu Metho, Camden Powell, Braylon Wilson, Brynlee Powell, and Karlos Goldman; great grandson, Braxton McLaughlin; brothers, Glenn Wilson of Storm Lake, Iowa, Robert Wilson of West Bend, Iowa, William (Sandy) Wilson of Columbus, Nebraska, James (Evelyn) Wilson of West Bend, Iowa and Theron Wilson of West Bend, Iowa; sisters, Susanna Bredehoeft of Emmetsburg, Iowa and Linda (Gary) Glaser of Las Vegas, Nevada; brother and sisters In-Laws, many nieces and nephews; “blood” brother, Steve Westfall; as well as many other relatives and friends.
Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
martinmatticefuneralhome.com