Leila Maring, 98, of Grinnell, died on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

Celebration of life gathering will be held from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Friday, April 19, 2024 at the St. Francis Manor - Social Center, Grinnell, IA. Private family inurnment will be held at Canby Cemetery, Adair County, IA.

Memorials may be designated to Care Initiatives Hospice or to the St. Francis Manor Foundation - Nurse Scholarship Fund, and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Leila's family online at www.smithfh.com.

Leila Norine Limbaugh was born the daughter of Eldridge Roy Limbaugh and Aleta Wilhemina (Comly) Limbaugh on February 19, 1925 in Casey, Iowa. She was raised and educated in Griswold, Iowa. She attended Simpson College in Indianola, IA and then Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Council Bluffs, IA.

Leila was united in marriage to Robert (Bob) Maring on August 17, 1951 at the United Methodist Church in Grinnell. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Lana, Linda, and Charles. They resided in Grinnell and Leila was a longtime nurse at Grinnell Regional Medical Center and as a hospice nurse at Grinnell Regional Hospice. She was a member of the Christian Church in Grinnell and served on several area boards including: Grinnell Regional Hospice, Grinnell Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Manor, and Grinnell Chamber of Commerce.

Leila dedicated much of her life to caring for others and bettering lives. She was a social butterfly who loved visiting with friends and family, playing cards and bridge, and crocheting. She will be remembered for her faith, for her kindness, for being selfless, and for the strong love of her family.

Leila is survived by her daughter, Linda Griswold of Cambridge, IL; son, Chuck Maring of Mt. Vernon, MO; 6 grandchildren, Andy (Sara) Heishman of Malcom, IA, Jim (fiancé - Kate) Heishman of Malcom, Becky (Chad) Blackert of Cambridge, IL, Gretchen (Jeff) Stokes-Lambert of Springfield, MO, Heather Maring of Springfield, and Ali Braaksma of Dows, IA; 7 great-grandchildren, Broc and Kade Heishman, Jolene Blackert, Teah Lane, Abigail Stokes, Dylan Royston, Silas Braaksma; and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob Maring in 1989; daughter, Lana Woodside in 2022; and her sister, Colleen Limbaugh.