Marjorie B Eilander Holmes

Marjorie B. Eilander Holmes, who was born to Edwin and Alice Belle McNew on March 2, 1930 in Pella, IA, passed away at the age of 92 on Saturday, March 26, 2022 in Des Moines, Iowa.

After graduating from Newton High School, Marjorie was proud to have been the personal house assistant to Mr. & Mrs. Maytag.  On July 2, 1948, she married Henry “Hank” Eilander Jr. at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Together they raised their family in the Newton area and operated Henry Eilander Concrete Company.  After Hank’s sudden passing, Marjorie would go on to become a very successful real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Brokerage; even joining the Million Dollar Seller’s Club her very first year.

In 1990, Marjorie would marry Pastor James “Jim” Holmes. Together they would travel to many destinations for leisure, mission work, and taking great pride in attending all their grandkids sporting events. She was always their number one fan.  Marjorie enjoyed hand sewing Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and she had a talent for designing personal greeting cards that she enjoyed sharing with all her family and friends.  She loved her Cadillacs, having many throughout the years, and enjoyed baking, cooking and hosting large family dinners every Sunday.  She most recently cherished the nearly 200 cards she received in the mail for her 92^nd birthday.  Above all, she adored her immediate family, church family and had unwavering faith in God.

Marjorie is survived by her children: Rich (Patty) Eilander of Monroe, Eddie (Tonda) Eilander of Newton and Mary Belle Noring of Des Moines; Jim’s children: Ken (Charmaine) Holmes, Karen (Tom) Grogan and Linda (Randy) Corbin; 19 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers and sister, Kenneth (Dottie) McNew, Jim (Jenny) McNew and Lois (Bob) Hinshaw; two husbands: Hank Eilander and James Holmes, an infant son, grandson Eric Eilander, granddaughter Missy Eilander, son-in-law Lowell Noring and Jim’s son Dwayne Holmes. 

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m., both at First Baptist Church, 3020 E. 38th Street, Des Moines.  Interment to follow a luncheon at the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Newton at 2:40 p.m. Marjorie's service will be live-streamed and can be viewed at: https://livestream.com/fbcurbandale.

Memorial donations may be made in Marjorie's memory to First Baptist Church.

Ernst Funeral & Cremation Services of Waukee has been entrusted with Marjorie's final arrangements.