A memorial service for Marie Dahlke, 102, of Estherville, was held at 3 p.m., Saturday, June 6, at the Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel in Estherville with Pastor Riley Edwards officiating. Interment was at Estherville Lutheran Cemetery. She died on June 3, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Estherville.
Nellie “Marie” Dahlke, the daughter of Martin and Frieda (Schwarc) Berge, was born on September 22, 1923, in Estherville, Iowa.
Marie was baptized and confirmed at Estherville Lutheran Church. Over the years she was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran in Ceylon and Grace Lutheran in Fairmont and attended the Christian Church in Fairmont. Marie married Arthur Dahlke on April 2, 1943, at her parents’ house. To this union, four children were born. The couple farmed in the Dolliver, Halfa, and Ceylon areas; after retirement they moved to Fairmont. Arthur passed away in 1998; a few years later Marie moved to Estherville.
In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting afghans, making almost 1000 and keeping a record of them. She was a woman of faith and hosted a Bible study in her home for years and attended Christian Women. Her motto was FROG (Forever Rely On God). She read the Bible in a year numerous times and enjoyed passing on Bibles to family members. Marie enjoyed gardening and canning, was a 4H leader and had a collection of bells (that never stopped ringing). She loved making people smile.
Marie is survived by her children, Nancy (Bill) McCarrol, Barbara (Vern Rosa) Carlson, and Connie (Steven) Saggau; grandchildren: Mike Petersen, Jeff Petersen, Diane Huddleston, Don Edwards, Pamela Morisch, Bob Edwards, Johnathan Saggau, Charissa Olivas and Matthew Dahlke; great-grandchildren, Samantha, Kinsey, Dakotah, Issac, Paisley, Mike, Casey, Riley, Zach, Jazmine, Jozlynn, Jaycelynn, Amelia, and Hank; and many great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Dahlke; her parents, Martin and Frieda (Schwarc) Berge; her son, Martin Dahlke; three sons-in-law, Richard Edwards, Daniel Petersen and Ronald Carlson and two great-grandchildren, Sabastian and Keaton.
Online condolences may be left for Marie’s family at HenryOlsonFuneral.com
