Dwight J. Marshall

Dwight James Marshall was born on St Patrick’s Day 1945 and graduated to heaven November 28, 2020. Dwight had a childhood full of adventure, growing up on the Century Family Farm near Cambria. Dwight walked nearly a mile to the 1-room school for 8 years before advancing to Cambria-Friesland High. Becoming an adult in the Vietnam era, Dwight enlisted in the US Navy (1962-1966) at age 17. He not only ventured the other hemispheres on the USS Frank Knox (DDR 742) but gained an appreciation for the great diversity and vastness of this world and reinforced his Midwest values.   

He returned from service, married and was blessed with two wonderful daughters, Sheilah & Tracy who he cherished with his whole heart. He worked at Monarch Range in Beaver Dam before starting his 39-year career with Fall River Canning (Friday, Chiquita & Seneca) in Cambria excelling from a welder to plant supervisor. Dwight shared his leadership and ingenuity by twice traveling to China with a team to establish a new plant and provide management training. Concurrently, Dwight led the family farm operations and occasionally drove semi-truck and did custom farm work. He was always recognized for loyalty, hard work and perseverance. 

He could fix or build almost anything needed for the farm, factory or fun including airboats, aircraft and implements. He strove to be on the cutting edge of technology procuring the most modern tools and toys and implementing progressive agriculture practices. He was an active member of the Rio Airport and Doylestown Sno-Hoppers Snowmobile Club and a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Doylestown. His passions included country-western and gospel music, adventure and western movies, and hunting & fishing. Dwight loved fun, adventure & speed… on land, water and sky.

He was a devoted friend and enjoyed sharing beer and conversation with them. He was a special grandpa who was an example by his actions and words. He valued and treasured those relationships and counted those blessings often. 

Dwight married Pearl in 1979, acquiring 3 stepsons (Russ, Tom & Daniel), who provided affordable farm labor and were welcome additions to the family. Dwight & Pearl worked together both on the farm and at the canning factory and travelled extensively throughout the US & Canada.  They were married 41 years.

Dwight chose to live his life to the fullest and knew it was time to join his heavenly Father through his Faith in Jesus Christ. His family & friends will miss him dearly cherishing the multitude of memories.  

Dwight is survived by wife Pearl, daughters Sheilah (Steve) Holznagel & Tracy (Erik) Beyer-Reierson, sons Russ (Mary Lou) Hanson, Tom Hanson, & Daniel (Jen) Hanson, 14 grandkids, & 11 great grandkids, brothers Stan, Jimmy & Joey, and brothers-in-law Bill (Mary) Grulke and Harlan (Michal Lynn) Hendrickson. Dwight was predeceased by his sister Sandy Hendrickson, parents Earl & Adeline Marshall and Ella & Johnny Schank, & infant daughter, Rebecca. 

Visitation will be held Friday, December 4, 2020 from 4 to 7 PM at Grasse Funeral Home in Rio. Social distancing and mask mandate are required. Funeral services will be private. Graveside services with full military honors will be held Saturday, December 5 at 12:15 PM at Cambria Cemetery on Hwy 146. A special thanks to all those who cared for Dwight at the end, including Pearl, Dan & Jen, Bill & Mary and many others who helped out or stopped by to say Hi.

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