Board Members
Executive Committee
Marla Suter
President
Although a native of Washington State and a transplant from New England, since moving to Iowa in 2003 I have fallen in love with the state and now call Marion County my home. The rich history of Marion County has intrigued and captivated me and I am passionate about preserving that history.
I am also a member of the Marion County Pioneer Cemetery Commission, the State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries, the Marion County Genealogical Society, the Henry Knox Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War (DUV), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3519.
Mayre Goemaat
Vice President
Bev Jones
Treasurer
Carla Huebler
Secretary
I am a Board of Director and member of the Marion County Historical Society (Knoxville, Iowa) as well as a member of several other organizations dealing with preserving
our past. The Marion County Pioneer Cemetery Commission, Marion County Genealogical Society, State Association for the Preservation of Pioneer Cemeteries, Daughters of Union Veterans (DUV) and National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) – Henry Knox Chapter, (Knoxville, Iowa).
I have to say that learning about and preserving our past is my passion. I love doing genealogical research, photographing cemeteries and headstones, and spending time working at our village. Our Marion County Historical Village and Museum has a wealth of information and history. It’s a great place to get lost in time.
“Family is a link to our past and a bridge to our future.”
Board Members
Helen Boertje
I was introduced to the Marion County Historical Society by Jennie Breen, a long time, active member of MCHS. In 1994 when we moved to Pella from the farm, Jennie and I became backyard neighbors. Knowing that I often gave heritage rug braiding demonstrations for various historical festivals she invited me to showcase my hobby at Pioneer Days. From that first visit I found like minded members and visitors to be very friendly and welcoming. I came back often to demonstrate and help in other ways.
My research for “When One Room Fit All, the Country Schools of Marion County, IA” was greatly aided by the material already contributed to the museum and by my contacts with the people I’ve met through MCHS. In the binders of information on country schools I even found several missing photographs from my mother’s album when she taught at Rees, Red Rock, and North Porterville. She’d be happy to know that her daughter is continuing to share her interest in country school education.
As the current Vice President of the Board, I have a more active voice in promoting the preservation of Marion County history. We do have a very rich history, much of it still to be recorded. Every family story contributes to that history. Take time to write yours down before the memory is lost.
