Marlene Rae Baumann, 75, of Washta passed away on Tuesday evening, June 9, 2026, at her home.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 15, at 10:30 a.m. at Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Father Dan Rupp will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset View Cemetery at Washta. Following the graveside service, the family invites everyone to the River Valley Elementary (Washta Gymnasium) for a time of lunch and fellowship. Visitation with the family present will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, at Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
Marlene was born on Aug. 30, 1950, to Emery and Helen (Larson) Hardersen in Sioux City. She attended Hinton Community School and graduated in 1968. She attended Westmar College, where she played basketball and volleyball and obtained her bachelor’s degree in teaching. She was united in marriage on Aug. 6, 1976, to Thomas Baumann at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sioux City. She taught history and physical education at Willow Community School and River Valley. She coached volleyball at Marcus; volleyball, basketball, track and softball at Willow and also served as the Willow athletic director for several years. She retired in 2012 from the River Valley School District.
She was a member of the Lutheran church. She was inducted into the Iowa Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2023.
In her free time, she enjoyed traveling, especially to the Black Hills to watch the buffalo, watching sporting events, loved reading romance novels, spending any time she could with family, especially baking with her grandchildren.
Marlene was a fiercely independent woman determined to overcome all obstacles. Marlene was also very softhearted and tremendously giving to anyone in need. She loved her family and friends thoroughly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Emery and Helen Hardersen; brother Darrel Hardersen; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arthur and Eva Baumann; and two brothers-in-law, James Baumann and Mike Hanson.
Marlene is survived by her husband Thomas Baumann of Washta; two sons and five grandchildren: Gabriel Thomas and Genoveva Baumann of Sioux City and their children, Ariana and Luca Baumann; and Will Thomas and Erin Baumann of Clarinda and their children, McArthur, Augustus and EttaLou Baumann; siblings: Larry (Donna) Harderson of Hinton; Marilyn (Bill) Murra of Schaller; and Judy (Dan) Schwartz of Iowa City; sisters-in-law: Cheryl Hardersen of Onawa; Connie Baumann of Washta; Mary Ann Hanson of Washta; and brother-in-law Chuck (Jill) Baumann of Jackson, Minn.; also several nieces and nephews.
