Celebration of Life services for Marvin Allen Van Sickle, 88, who passed away Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, will be held 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 9 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. prior to service.

Marv was born August 1, 1928 in Moline, IL to Leora (Williams) and Harlan Van Sickle. He grew up in Silvis, IL and graduated from United Township High School in East Moline at the age of 16. He enjoyed spending summers with his grandparents in Seymour, IA.

He enlisted in the Navy on August 21, 1945. He was involved in the Navy's first and second atomic bomb tests, known as Operation Crossroads. Marv was honorably discharged on July 1, 1949. He was later called back in 1950 to serve in the Korean War.

Marv returned to college on the GI Bill and attended Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa. While in school, he met his future wife, Barbara (Browne). They were married June 7, 1953 in Dubuque, IA. After college, Marv and Barb taught in Dumont, IA. He continued his teaching career in Pleasantville and later became principal of the Pleasantville junior/senior high school. Marv received his Masters Degree from Drake University in 1959. In 1963 he moved with his family to Dubuque, IA where he continued his teaching at Senior High School. He taught history and government. He was instrumental in starting the Drivers Education program for the Dubuque Community Schools. In 1968 he became a professor of safety education at the University of Dubuque, where he trained future driver's education teachers. He was hired at the Iowa Department of Public Education as a safety education consultant in 1975. Marv served as Manager of Governmental Affairs for AAA Motor Club of Iowa from 1980 until he retired in 1990.

He was a man of many interests including traveling and camping with his family. Trips often included going to St. Louis to watch the St. Louis Cardinals baseball games. Marv traveled with Barb to Australia, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, and Canada. Together they traveled on a container ship across the Atlantic Ocean. For a brief period of time he was a Ham Radio Operator. He enjoyed music, computers, researching our family history, photography, biking (rode Ragbrai in 1982) and telling stories and stories and stories.

Marv and Barb were actively involved in the Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa, Indianola Carousel Theatre, the National Balloon Classic and the National Balloon Museum. Marv and Barb ran the Public Information Booth at the balloon field for over 25 years. Marv was currently on the board of the Indianola Concert Association.

He is survived by his wife, Barb; children, Mark (Melinda) of Dorchester, SC, LeeAnn (Sherwin) Back of Pleasant Hill, IA, David (Deidre) Van Sickle of Phoenix, AZ, and Karen Van Sickle of Des Moines, IA; sister, Claudia (Rick) Steinbach of Des Moines, IA; nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, cousins and nieces and nephews.

We wish to express a special thank you to the Veterans Administration, his cancer team at Stoddard, his Hospice team, Taylor Hospice House, and his friends at Vintage Coop in Indianola, for all the love and care shown during this time.

Memorial contributions can be directed to the Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa, Indianola Carousel Theatre, National Balloon Classic, National Balloon Museum or the Indianola Concert Association.  For a complete obituary or to submit an online condolence visit our website at www.overtonfunerals.com.