Marla J. Van Briesen, 58, of Lake Ponderosa near Montezuma, died on March 20, 2018, at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. A Celebration of Life Service has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 29th, at the Presbyterian Church in Montezuma with the Rev. Dr. George Salnave officiating. Pianist will be Carol Behounek accompanied by Jessie Ahrens as vocalist. The Van Briesen family will receive friends for lunch and fellowship following the service. Memorial contributions may be directed towards the Marla J. Van Briesen Memorial Fund. Marla was born on September 24, 1959, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Marlyn Alfred and Joan Marie Schoonhoveen Hansmann. She was raised on the family farm in the George area where she was very active with the farm chores. She was a 1978 graduate of George High School. While in school she excelled in both basketball and softball and was also employed with the White Shop Restaurant. On December 11, 1981, she was united in marriage with Randy Lee Van Briesen, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in George. The couple continued living in George and moved to Lake Ponderosa in 2017. Marla knew the value of hard-work! While in George she ran a daycare business from her home and with her husband they together operated a lawn care business for 20 years. She was also employed at the Beehive (now Coble Creek) Assisted Living in Sheldon. After moving to Lake Ponderosa she was employed at the Grinnell Daycare Center. She was an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in George and started the Kids For Christ program through the church. She later attended the Presbyterian Church in Montezuma. She held a strong faith! Marla was also very active with her family and raising her sons. She enjoyed attending all their activities while they were growing up and later in life playing with her grandchildren. She enjoyed fishing, gardening and canning her produce. She enjoyed listening to Country and Gospel music and attending weekend dances in the George area. Marla is survived by her husband, Randy of Lake Ponderosa; three sons, Mitchell (Jenny Kalo) Van Briesen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Nathan (Paula) Van Briesen of Grinnell and Adam (Erica) Van Briesen of Iowa City; two grandchildren, Brock and Beckett Van Briesen of Grinnell; two brothers, Darvin (Karol) Hansmann of Thornton, Colorado and Mark (Darcy) Hansmann of George, Iowa; and one sister, Deb (David) Kats of Rock Valley, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents