Marlyn Bacon

Obituary

Marlyn Walter Bacon was born on November 15, 1953, in Manchester, Iowa. He was the son of Walter and Wanda (Sandhagen) Bacon. He grew up on a farm near Garnavillo, Iowa.

After high school, Marlyn attended Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa, graduating with an agronomy degree. He worked for Ker McGee (more recently known as Crop Production Services) in Iowa for a short time before being transferred to the Winthrop, Minnesota, plant in 1973. Marlyn was employed with the company for 42 years. He took great pride in his work and his relationships with his customers.

Marlyn married Doris Harbarth on February 21, 1976. This marriage was blessed with two children, Lonnie and Marlene. He married Renee (Walz) Smith on September 12, 1998. Marlyn gained a step-son, Charles. At that time, he moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota. Renee passed away on May 14, 2008. Marlyn married Laurie Vasko on April 13, 2013.

Marlyn was active in his church and community. He was a youth activities coordinator at Peace Lutheran Church in Winthrop, served on the Winthrop ambulance for 24 years, participated in Kiwanis, Grackle Committees, and Variety Shows. Marlyn also worked as a part time bus driver for around 45 years in Iowa, Winthrop, and Hutchinson.

Marlyn always had a joke and a laugh to share. He was a very social guy and had many hobbies. Many of his hobbies required frequent trips to his favorite place, Menards. So many trips that the employees called him by name.

Marlyn enjoyed spending time in Proehl’s woods harvesting and splitting wood. He had several motorcycles through his life and was a member of the Wednesday Night Motorcycle group. Marlyn and Laurie also enjoyed riding themselves or with smaller groups of friends. He was an Excel spreadsheet guru having hundreds of different ones from complex crop planning/pricing spreadsheets, to agendas, speaking notes, or simple lists and a daily calendar of events. Marlyn’s alter ego was “Crispy Bacon”. Crispy, along with Beans, Smiley Mae, and Gabby Dots spent many enjoyable afternoons walking parade routes or clowning at fundraisers. Marlyn is best known as the “Candy Cane Man”, making over 3700 candy canes over the years out of PVC pipe and Christmas lights. The candy canes brought smiles and joy to many people. His favorite part was meeting people and seeing them so happy to have a candy cane. That legacy will live on.

Spending time with his family and friends was an important part of his life. Whether it was watching a ball game, listening to a band or choir concert, he was the grandkids’ biggest fan. There were many trips to Iowa to visit family and many gatherings with friends.

Marlyn passed away on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Woodstone Senior Living, at the age of 72 years.

Blessed be his memory.

Marlyn is survived by his:
Wife, Laurie Bacon;
Children, Lonnie Bacon and his wife, Jeanine,
Marlene Barfknecht and her husband, Daren;
Step-son, Charles Smith and his wife, Pam;
Grandchildren, Kalvin and Keaton Barfknecht, Emersyn and Madisyn Bacon;
Step-grandchildren, Connor (Brook) Smith, Emma (Ryan) Brown;
Mother-in-law, Charlotte Vasko;
Sister, Dianne Torrey;
Sisters-in-law, Becky Bacon,
Sue (Bob) Schantzen;
Brothers-in-law, Randy (Shelly) Vasko,
Bob (Eileen) Vasko;
Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Marlyn is preceded in death by his Parents, Walter and Wanda Bacon; Sister, Mary Lou Champion; Brothers, David and Wayne Bacon; Brother-in-law, Gary Torrey; Niece, Elaine Torrey.