Gene Marxen

Gene Marxen, 78, of Exira, Iowa, formerly of Lewis, died Sunday, August 2, 2026, at Caring Acres in Anita.

Wilbur Gene was born on January 19, 1948, in Creston, Iowa, the son of Wilbur “Bud” Jake and Edith Marjorie (Young) Marxen. He grew up in Lewis and worked at a dairy farm. Gene graduated from Griswold High School in the Class of 1966. In 1967, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed in California. He served during Vietnam on the USS Mullany and the USS Fechteler as a Boilerman.

In April of 1972, he was united in marriage to Linda Behnken at the First Lutheran Church, south of Wiota. The couple was blessed with seven children. A highlight for the kids was going to the skating rink just as he did in his youth; they were pretty surprised at the amazing skater he was.

Gene drove truck most of his working career, and also worked locally at various places. He was a jack-of-all-trades always willing to help a friend fix something and along the way taught his kids some of the same skills.

He read and watched countless Westerns through the years; Louis L’Amour was his favorite author and John Wayne his favorite actor. Gene collected a bit of everything including tractors, coins and beer steins. Weekends were often spent camping, fishing and swimming at nearby lakes, including Lake Anita and Littlefield.

Gene was a people person with a big heart. He may not have been happy about the mess you got into but he was always one you could count on to help you through it.

Gene was so proud of his family and in conversation one of the first things he would tell people was that he had seven kids, 18 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his children, Josh (Sheila) Marxen, Faith (Joe) Bass, Elizabeth (Sean) Alff, Matt (Jen) Marxen, Daniel (Maggie) Marxen, Mary (Steve) Pedersen and Sarah Marxen; grandchildren, Sonielle, Ashley, Jaccob, Dustin, Joseph, Hunter, Colton, Ana, Brody, Ethan, Brooklin (Evan), Braxton (Bella), Kody, Ryder, Hannah, Rebecca, Summer, and Steven; four great-grandchildren, brother, Gary Marxen; sister, Marge (Dana) Livingston; and many extended family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur “Bud” and Edith Marxen and the mother of his children, Linda Marxen.

Graveside Celebration of Life services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 14th at the Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis, Iowa.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Gene’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.