Marsha Atkinson

BLOOMINGTON — Marsha Lee Atkinson, 67, of Grinnell, Iowa, died Friday (Dec. 18, 2015) at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A family graveside service and burial will be at a later date at Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington.

Memorial contributions may be directed to PALS (Poweshiek County Animal League Shelter), P.O. Box 123, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Marsha was born Jan. 12, 1948, in Chicago, the daughter of Alfred and Hazel Baenziger Swan. She was raised in Bloomington and was a 1965 graduate of Bloomington High School. She was a 1969 graduate of Illinois State University, Normal, and later graduated from Midstate College, Peoria.

She was employed with the Greyhound accounting department in Des Moines and moved to Grinnell in 1994. For 22 years, she was the market manager for the Saturday morning Farmers Market in Grinnell and also co-owned a farm in the Blue Point area, south of Grinnell, where she raised fruit and vegetables.

Marsha kept very busy between running her farm and managing the market. She was very well-known and appreciated for her organic gardening. She loved the outdoors and nature, traveling and was an avid reader.

Survivors include her loving sister and brother-in-law, Pat and John Stanko, Canton; two nieces, Jessica Leigh Stanko and Lynette Rae Stanko, both of St. Louis; and her long-time friend and business partner, Linda Allen, Grinnell.

She was preceded in death by her parents.