Merlie Ellen Kalsem, of Ames, passed away on July 21, 2022. A public visitation will be held at Grandon Funeral & Cremation Care on Monday, July 25, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Nevada Seventh-Day Adventist Church. To leave a condolence, visit: grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com
Merlie (Foster) Kalsem was born to Charles and Alberta (Pieffer) Foster on July 25th, 1939, in Battle Creek, Iowa. She was raised and educated in the area, graduating from Danbury High School with the class of 1958. Following her primary education, she worked for Bourns Manufacturing. On March 4th 1962, She and Jim Kalsem were united in marriage in Nevada, Iowa. The two would go on to make their home in Ames were they raised their two children; Jim and Bill Kalsem.
While the children attended grade school, Merlie began working for local sororities and fraternities as a cook for the next 14 years. Merlie dabbled in various industries, raising and selling sweet corn and vegetables from the family farm stand. She also assisted Ray Cunningham, who got her started in helping those transitioning to assisted living with their personal belongings and disposing of no longer needed items. Merlie enjoyed friends and family (especially her grandson) and was a prolific flower gardener who always put her trust in the Lord. She was always supportive of her family, particularly her children. Whether that was riding on the back of a motorcycle or going shooting.
Merlie is survived by her husband, James Kalsem; children, Jim & Shannon Remsburg-Kalsem, Bill Kalsem; siblings, Jim Foster of Knoxville, Iowa, and Carol Biegler of Pendelton, Oregon; grandson, Porter Kalsem.
Merlie is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lois Foster; siblings, Mary Jensen of Battle Creek, Iowa, Chuck Foster of Wilmington, Delaware, Eidith Wooten of Muscatine, Iowa and William Foster of Battle Creek, Iowa.