Marlin Gene Kempf, age 89, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospital due to complications from a heart procedure.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington Iowa. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. A private family interment will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery. A general memorial has been established. Online condolences may be sent for Marlin’s family at www.jonesfh.com

Marlin was born on October 10, 1936, on the family farm in Greene Township in Iowa County, Iowa, the son of Harvey and Elizabeth (Groff) Kempf. He attended a one-room school in Greene Center and Whitehall, later graduating from Wellman High School in 1955. He proudly served in the Iowa National Guard with Company A, 1st Battalion, 113th Armored Division, from 1959 to 1965. On May 5, 1963, Marlin married the love of his life, Linda Lucille Donaldson, at the Ainsworth Methodist Church. Together, they had two children, Marla and Monte.

Marlin was a lifelong resident of Iowa City. He worked at Yoder Feeds in Frytown, Iowa, from 1955 to 1997, and at GreenState Credit Union from 1988 to 2008. In his early years, he was a member of Franklin Methodist Church. He was very active in Boy Scouts with his son, Monte, and continued to support the organization for 15 years.

In his free time, Marlin could often be found on the golf course. He was an avid golfer and held memberships at Fairview Golf Course, Fox Run Golf & Country Club, and Hi Point Golf Course. He was also a devoted sports fan, cheering on the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes. Marlin enjoyed fishing, playing pinocle cards, traveling, listening to live music – especially country classics and bluegrass – taking car rides, and spending time with family and friends. He was a supportive father and a dedicated grandfather (Papa) who never missed an opportunity to attend his grandchildren’s events.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Kempf of Iowa City, Iowa; daughter, Marla (Jeff) Johnson of Iowa City, Iowa; son, Monte (Pam) Kempf of Woodland Park, Colorado; three grandchildren: Delaney, Campbell, and Addison Johnson; and sister, Laura Miller of Kalona, Iowa; along with several nieces and nephews.

Marlin was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Paul Miller.