Marshall Sohm

Marshall Sohm

1939 – 2025

DANBURY - Marshall Sohm, 85, of Danbury, passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at the Maple Heights Nursing Home of Mapleton, where he had lived since March 2023.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 7, 2025, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Danbury. Father William A. McCarthy and Father Andy Sohm will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery of Danbury, with Military Rites conducted by Carlson-Frum Post #336 of the American Legion of Danbury.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., with a Vigil Service held at 7 p.m., Sunday, July 6, 2025, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Danbury.

Memorial donations can be given in Marshall’s name to Battle Creek Ambulance, Danbury Ambulance or Danbury Catholic School.

The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, was in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.

Born at home on Aug. 25, 1939, the second born son of Carl J and Mary Margaret (Harrigan) Sohm of rural Danbury.  This Liston Township farm is now the Sohm Century Farm. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Danbury where he remained a lifelong member.

He attended country school at Riverside, where he was reportedly the Star Kindergartener (the only Kindergartener) in 1944. He attended 1st grade at Wayside #8 and then joined his brother Richard at Danbury Catholic for 2nd thru 8th grades.  He had a serious illness, nephritis, in the 8th grade (1953) and missed two months of school. He always credited his teacher, Sister Mary Jerome, for noticing his symptoms and told him to “Get to the doctor!” and he recovered successfully.  

He attended Danbury Catholic High School and graduated in 1957. Following graduation, he worked for farmers and also did construction work. In 1960, he joined the Army National Guard, 2nd Mech 133rd Infantry, at Mapleton. Marshall said it was “The best thing to happen to a shy Iowa farm boy.” He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He was Honorably discharged after six years of service in 1966, having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.  

In 1960, he was invited to prom by a ‘cute’ 16-year-old girl and they dated until she graduated in 1962. Marshall married Mary Ann Cockayne on Sept. 8, 1962 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Danbury.  

They farmed with his parents, Carl and Margaret, and in 1964, they bought their own farm. They raised sheep, cattle, hogs and crops. Their family grew from 1965-1975, welcoming three daughters and three sons, Monica, Berny, Joan, Ed, Joe, Teresa.

In 1991, they purchased the Sohm Century Farm that had been bought by his grandparents Jacob and Frances Sohm in 1894.

Marshall volunteered with Mid-Sioux Opportunity with the Head Start Program. He was an Ida County 4-H leader for the Maple Huskies club, a member of the Ida County Sheep Producers and an Ida County Fair Sheep Superintendent. He was a trained storm spotter and reported weather info on the CB Radio, ‘The Shepherd; was his handle. He learned Morse Code and became a Licensed Amateur Radio Operator, using the call sign ‘KQ0P’.

In the 1980s, he took Emergency Rescue Training and then EMT classes. He then became an instructor for Emergency Medical Training for Western Iowa Tech. Later, he also became an EMT-Intermediate, and Instructor for that class. His class roster from 1984-2006 numbered in the hundreds, from many area communities.

He served on the Battle Creek Ambulance for over 30 years, as coordinator and financial officer. He served on the Danbury Ambulance for several years after moving to town. He always said there were no ‘bad’ calls because his crew always did their best. All together he spent over 35 years volunteering for emergency services.  

Marshall semi-retired from farming in 1999 and moved his dad into their farm home to care for him until Carl entered the nursing home, shortly before Carl’s death in 2001.

He continued to keep active when he moved to town in 2009, with gardening and yard work.

Marshall was a regular blood donor, having achieved over 28 gallons.

He was a Liston Township Trustee and did the grave marking for Liston Cemetery and the Danbury Catholic Cemetery until retiring in 2022.

Marshall was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where he taught CCD classes and was a Eucharistic Minister. While home-bound, he watched mass on his computer. He bought his first computer in the 80s and upgraded as new models came out. He enjoyed the challenge of technology and enjoyed his cell phone, a little amazed at all it could do.  He was a farmer first and still enjoyed keeping up on the crop’s livestock and machinery. He restored, with Joe’s help, the H Farmall tractor. This tractor was first bought by his Dad in 1941, and Marshall was the second owner. He was proud of the hard work of his children working on the farm with him, but was glad to send them to college for the chance at a different life.

Marshall was always amazed and delighted in the variety of personalities of the 20+ grandkids and great-grandkids.

Marshall is survived by Mary Ann, his wife of 62 years; their children and families: daughter Monica Schmidt and her husband Kyle, their children; Brandon Sohm, wife Amanda and son Liam; Chantelle Hammer and her children, Olivia and Owen Bjorholm; Katrina Barber and husband Travis; son Berny Sohm, wife Tonya and their children Paige and Nick; daughter Joan Sohm and her children, Elizabeth Verschoor and Stevin and their daughter Remi; Bridget Verschoor; Zoe Verschoor and Dillon, Kaleb Verschoor and Emma; son Ed Sohm, wife Jenni and their children Gable, Claire and Jack; son Joe Sohm wife Tina and their children, Tyler Sohm and Katie, Zane Sohm, Brennen Sohm and Tina’s sons Josh Dunker, Ryan Dunker, Zach and Timberlen Dunker; daughter Teresa Sohm-McMillen, husband Rob and their children Lauren McMillen, Margo McMillen and Nina McMillen.

Also survived by sisters-in-law Bonnie Sohm, Kerry Sohm and Margaret Sohm. Many nieces, nephews and cousins. And so many former EMS friends.  

Preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Margaret; his brothers, Richard, David and John; and his little angel grandson Dalton Sohm.