Alva Marcella McGuire

Alva Marcella McGuire, loving wife, mother and grandmother, was called home on Thursday, September 29, 2011. Alva was born on June 30, 1919 to Soren and Tillie Skram and was the youngest of four children. She was raised in Mason City, Iowa, where she formed many lifelong friends.

She married the love of her life, Lester Alden (Mickey) McGuire on December 1, 1940 and celebrated 53 years of marriage before Mickey passed away. Her words, when describing how she felt about him, “I was so proud to be the wife of such an enduring man who always held my hand, even while driving the car.”

While she was busy raising her children, she was very involved with volunteer work and being the PTA President for several years. She worked at J.C. Penney’s and retired from there after 20 years. She loved to sing in her church choir and had a beautiful voice. She loved to sew and was an incredible scrapbooker before the scrapbooking craze. She had many traditions; birthdays and holiday dinners were of the utmost importance, everyone had their own birthday party at Grandma’s. She continued cooking for her family into her 80’s and was wise enough to realize that it is not what you put on the table that is important, but who is in the chairs.

Alva was the proud Mother of four children, Ron McGuire and his wife, Linda, Lonnie Pestano and her husband, Joey, James (Butch) McGuire and Dennis McGuire and his wife, Debbie. She also leaves behind six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, who all adored and loved her so.

Alva will be remembered most for her friendly and nurturing spirit. A truly good person, she was one of those people who was instantly loved by everyone. She never lost her sweet spirit, concern for others and her strong faith in God. She considered her friends at St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church as family. It was through her undying commitment to Christ and her belief that God was GOOD…all the time, that she truly was an example of God’s love and grace. The gap she leaves will never be filled, but her positive influence on everyone she encountered will keep her memory alive.

The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m., with the funeral service following at 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 3, 2011 at St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th Street. Officiating the service will be Pastor Jennifer Tiemann and Pastor Albert Holck. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.

Honoring Alva as pallbearers will be Ron McGuire, Ronnie McGuire, Lance Seach, Cole Seach, Joe Pestano and Joey Pestano.

Special thanks to Stonebridge Health Center for taking care of and protecting our mother.