Marilyn Lillie (Leonhard) Thomas

Marilyn Thomas, 89, of Columbus Junction, passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at the Colonial Manor Care Center in Columbus Junction.  Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at the Columbus City Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to the Columbus Junction United Methodist Church.  The Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Service of Columbus Junction is caring for the family. Online condolences may be left at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.       

            Marilyn Lillie Leonard was born on May 10, 1932, in Muscatine, the daughter of Elliot and Pearl (Whiteside) Leonard.  She graduated from Columbus Community Schools and Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant.  Marilyn was united in marriage to Ernest McFarland on August 14, 1950  in San Diego, CA.  To this union two sons, Thomas and Steven McFarland were born.  The couple later divorced.  On November 26, 1961, she was united in marriage to Thomas ‘Tommy” Thomas in Aledo, IL.  Marilyn loved to work, she started as a waitress when she was 15.  Later she worked at Smithcraft Printing and was a cashier at  the aircraft cafeteria and Cookie Factory in California, Ross Dry Goods, Columbus Junction State Bank and she taught the 4th and 6th grades for several years at Columbus Community Schools.  Marilyn also owned the Columbus Coffee House, Ross Dry Goods and the Dairy Sweet.  She was a member of the Columbus Junction United Methodist Church serving on the Susanna Circle and the United Methodist Women, where she was President and Trustee.  Marilyn was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Senior Center Board Secretary.  She also enjoyed camping in Florida, California and Oregon.   

            Marilyn will be dearly missed by her children, Steve McFarland and his wife, Ruth of Fort Myers, FL, Tom McFarland and his wife, Chris of Columbus Junction,  Linda Rathjen and her husband, Louis of Oxford, Barb Bonnichsen and her husband, Steve of Columbus Junction; 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren

            She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Tommy and brother, LaVerne “Bud” Leonard.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marilyn Lillie (Leonhard) Thomas, please visit our floral store.