Marvin Leroy Bodeker

Marvin L. Bodeker, 82, of Alexandria passed away peacefully on January 9, 2023, at Alomere Health with loved ones by his side.

Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m., Monday, January 23, 2023, at Church of St. Mary  in Alexandria with Fr. Matthew Kuhn officiating. Music is provided by organist, Luke VanOverbeke and cantor, Erin Takle.  Interment is at the church cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m., and will conclude with a 7 p.m., prayer service on Sunday, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Marvin Leroy was raised in Glenwood the third son to William and Maybelle (Adolphsen) Bodeker.  He graduated from Glenwood High School in 1959.  Marvin met Carolyn Kalina, the love of his life, and they were married on August 12, 1963.  They were blessed with two daughters who were his pride and joy, Carla and Kalee. Marvin spent the majority of is working life as a Machinist.  He started out working for Glenwood Manufacturing and Gauge Tool in the Twin Cities.  He took a short break from machining and purchased a Dairy Queen in Algona, Iowa which he and Carolyn worked together.  Marvin returned to Alexandria and started his own business, Bodeker Machining. As the business grew Marvin moved his business to Glenwood, his hometown, and a community he was always fond of.  Together Marvin and Carolyn worked side by side in this business and proved to be quite a team. Marv sold the business and retired in 1999.

Marv was a member of the Fridley Jaycees, the Glenwood Jaycees, and a board member for the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce. Marv enjoyed hunting, fishing, painting, wood carving, playing guitar and singing. He and Carolyn enjoyed dancing and traveling.  They were fortunate to have spent 16 years wintering in Arizona where they made many friends and memories together. Marv’s greatest joy was his family and was blessed with four grandchildren. He often gushed, as grandparents often do, of how smart and talented his grandchildren are.  He loved his sons-in-law and enjoyed golf outings, fishing excursions but mostly their company and conversation.

Marv will be remembered for his great sense of humor (occasionally inappropriate), his ability to make friends and form relationships with anyone, his smile that came easy and was often accompanied by a sparkle in his eye and a wink.  He was a great hugger!  He was generous and provided jobs to people even when he wasn’t hiring.  He never complained or spoke ill of people.  He was a man of few words and when he spoke it was thoughtful, meaningful, and often the voice of reason.  Marvin will be missed immensely but remembered mostly for being a devoted husband, father, and papa. 

He is pre-deceased by his parents; brothers, Eugene ‘Bud’ (Angie) Bodeker, and Boyd (Susan) Bodeker, and sister-in-law, Charlene Bodeker.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Carolyn of 59 years; daughters, Carla (Frank) Varela of San Marcos, Texas, and Kalee (Craig) Olson of Alexandria, four grandchildren: Emma Varela of Atlanta, Georgia, Caroline Varela of Arlington, Texas, Parker Olson of Notre Dame, Indiana, Payton Olson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; brother, Kerry Bodeker of Stacy, Minnesota; along with many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Calvin Kalina, Neal Kalina, Courtny Kalina, Steve Kalina, Jeff Hvezda, and Gregg Kollman.  Honorary pallbearers are Jim Watkins, Jim Clayton, Dave Rybak, and Dick Bush.