Deborah Marquardt Obituary

Proverbs 31:25

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

Deborah Geraldine (Warren) Marquardt, age 76, of Des Moines, Iowa went to be with our Lord on November 13, 2024. She was surrounded by family at her home.

Deborah was born October 7, 1948, in Kansas City and grew up in Bates City, Missouri. She graduated from Odessa High School with the class of 1966. She continued her education at Upper Iowa University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992. Deborah’s career was in Human Resources where she began working for Tension Envelope in Kansas City, and Stix Baer and Fuller in Independence, Missouri.

On June 12, 1976, she married the love of her life, Roger F. Marquardt from Nevada, Missouri. They honeymooned in Colorado traveling in their 1973 Chevy Caprice Classic convertible which they enjoyed throughout the years and still own to this day. Deborah always loved to go to Nevada, Roger’s home, to ride horses. Roger would ride his horse Sunny and Deborah would ride Babe, Grandpa Bert’s horse.

Rog and Deb, including Rachelle and Jason moved to Des Moines, Iowa from Blue Springs, Missouri in 1977. Deborah continued her career in Human Resources at Central Bank and was a national recruiter for Preferred Risk Insurance and the Iowa Retail Federation. Early in her career she was a part of the Toast Master’s Club. In 1993, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to opening her own business, Valley Junction Country Club Golf Gifts and Clothing.

Deborah and Roger enjoyed traveling, playing golf, dancing, listening to country and blues music, and entertaining family and friends. For many years they enjoyed traveling to Lake Conroe in Willis, Texas during the winter months. They enjoyed playing golf, going to favorite restaurants, and sitting on the deck watching the ducks and boats going by on the lake.

All in the Family lounge was the meeting place where they developed life-long friendships in Des Moines. Deborah and Roger seemed to make friends wherever they went (including Sandals Resort in Jamaica). She enjoyed learning about the ancestry of her family heritage which included her Grandmother Rachel Massey, sitting on the lap of Frank James, brother of Jessie James, from the infamous James gang, at a family picnic in the early 1900s.

She was proud of her two children and grandchildren, daughter Rachelle (Marquardt) Gerstel, husband David Gerstel and their two sons Logan and Travis Gerstel; as well as son Jason Marquardt, wife Valerie (Kaczmarek) Marquardt and their son Dylan Marquardt. She enjoyed being a part of her three grandson’s lives, going to baseball games, swim meets, school programs, and graduations.

She is preceded in death by her father Roy L. Warren; mother Esther M. (Massey) Warren; sister Donna L. Gnagi; grandparents Huron V. Massey and Rachel (Fitzgerald) Massey of Kearney, Missouri, and Harry and Minnie (Henning) Warren of Bates City, Missouri. She is survived by her loving husband Roger Marquardt of Des Moines, IA; daughter Rachelle Gerstel (David) of Ankeny, IA; son Jason Marquardt (Valerie) of Norwalk, IA; sister Alesia Fowler Smallwood (Bill) of Martinsburg, West Virginia; grandsons Logan Gerstel, Travis Gerstel, and Dylan Marquardt; nieces Michelle Foley and Margaret Amend; and nephews Michael and Matthew Gnagi, and Timothy and Justin Fowler.

A celebration of life gathering will be held at Iles Dunn’s Chapel 2121 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Sunday, December 15 from 12:00 - 2:00 pm with a celebration of life service beginning at 1:30 pm.

Please bring any memories or stories you would like to share.

Arrangements by Iles Dunn’s Chapel.

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