Ivan C Marsteller's Obituary
Ivan Clayton Marsteller
age 98, passed away peacefully at his Clearwater home surrounded by his loving wife and family on January 13, 2015. Ivan was born in Fredonia, PA to Robert Emmett Earl and Hannah Foster Marsteller on June 30, 1916. He is predeceased by his brother, Emmett of Ocala, FL and his sister, Janet Carlson of Ashland, OH. Ivan is survived by his wife of 69 years, Phyllis; his children, Timothy (Judith) (Erie, PA), Jack (Joana) (Manhattan Beach, CA), and Deborah Figaski (Richard) (Erie, PA); his grandchildren, Courtney, Ashley, Tenley, and Jackson Marsteller, and Richard and Kyle Figaski.
Ivan was raised on the family farm, attended a one-room school house, graduated from Thiel College during the Great Depression, and had a long and illustrious career as a metallurgical and quality control engineer in the aerospace, manufacturing, and energy industries in Cleveland, OH, Erie, PA, and Houston, TX. He was president of the regional American Metallurgical Society for many years.
His grandfather was a Methodist minister and physician, and Ivan was a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Church his entire life, including service as Lay Leader and Chairman of both Staff/Parish Relations Committee and Trustees, as well as numerous other church committees. He also lived his faith through service to the community, volunteering at food banks in Houston and Clearwater until late in his life.
Ivan was devoted to his family and involved in their many activities, including sponsoring a Boy Scout Troop, coaching little league baseball and instructing his children in the finer points of golf. His family has fond memories of many summer vacations at a Michigan resort, trips to the New York World’s Fair and California, and family reunions in North Carolina, Vermont, and Hawaii.
Ivan and Phyllis enjoyed playing golf and bridge together and traveled extensively in retirement, including to six of the seven continents.
The Reverend Dr. Scott A. Baker will lead a Celebration of Ivan’s Life at First United Methodist Church, Clearwater on January 26, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Endowment Fund of First United Methodist Church, 411 Turner Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 or RCS Food Bank, 503 South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Clearwater, Florida 33756 http://www.rcspinellas.org/donate
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