Concordia Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids

For weeks, members at Concordia Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids planned a surprise 30^th anniversary party for their ever-faithful church organist and music coordinator, Marlene Loftsgaarden. Top secret invitations were mailed to parishioners with the details: Surprise celebration Dec. 23 during 8:00 church service followed by cake and coffee in the Fellowship Hall.

As the date approached, the forecast was for a “major winter storm event.” But no one guessed it would be so severe that most Eastern Iowa churches would cancel services. So when the phone rang early Sunday morning, Rev. Jerry Doellinger was certain it was Marlene. It was. Concerned for the members, and also unsure that she would be able to make the 11-mile drive to church, she urged the cancellation of services. Determined to hold the celebration, Pastor Doellinger insisted that the services would go on.

Doug, Marlene’s husband, was in on the surprise. So he was up at 5 a.m. to shovel out the drifts that blocked their driveway. Two hours later, he told Marlene to wake their sons (both home for Christmas) and plan on leaving for the early service. Marlene would later comment that her sons, neither one a morning person, were “unusually cooperative.”

Nearing the interstate, Marlene had misgivings. She again called Pastor Doellinger to inform him that she was considering retreating for home. Pastor Doellinger remained resolute that the services would be held. Shortly after hanging up, Marlene’s cell phone rang. This time it was Pastor Doellinger saying he would be late. “My driveway and road are drifted shut.” Surely this would mean church would be canceled, Marlene thought. Without a choice, Pastor Doellinger had to let out some of the surprise. He explained to Marlene that he couldn’t cancel because the members were planning to honor her 30^th anniversary. This moved Marlene to tears.

Encouraged by her sons, they made it to the church minutes before the service. Having no idea what was planned for her, she hustled up to the organ loft where she began the pre-service music. Waiting for Pastor Doellinger to arrive, volunteers led a hymn sing. On any other Sunday, a house of only 60 worshipers would be reason for concern, but on this particular morning, for 60 people to brave the conditions only points out how much they appreciate Marlene.

Upon arriving, Pastor Doellinger asked Marlene to please make her way, with her sons, to the front of the church. There he formally thanked Marlene for her 30 years of service and detailed the celebration. First, she was invited to sit with her family while another member accompanied the service on piano. Then, piano students of Marlene stood to honor their beloved teacher. Later, her son Ryan, who studies music composition in Chicago, performed an original piano piece as the offertory, one that he wrote especially for his mom.

Marlene began piano lessons in the first grade. In the sixth grade, she started lessons on a pipe organ that her grandfather purchased St. John’s Lutheran in Center Point. After she was confirmed, age 14, Marlene began her career as a church organist at St. John’s. At 15, she began giving piano lessons. She then went on to study music at Coe College where she saw an ad for an organist at Ascension Lutheran Church in Marion. It was there, at the organ, her husband proposed to her there one Christmas Eve in front of the whole congregation.

Marlene and Doug moved to California where she continued as an organist. Returning in 1977, she became the choir director at Zion Lutheran Church in Hiawatha. She also worked at Armstrong’s Department Store where she made fur coats. It was her aunt and uncle, Doris and Dick Faas, who, thirty years ago, told her about the organist opening at Concordia. The rest, as they say, is (musical) history.

Marlene has continued teaching private lessons throughout the years. She currently has 40 students a week, many of whom are members of Concordia. She continues to diligently build the children’s choir (Tuned Into God) and the young adult choir (Kids For Christ). She has also worked many years for the Cedar Rapids Symphony and has recently been promoted to librarian.

On December 23, in the midst of a snow storm, grateful members of Concordia Lutheran Church presented Marlene with a ceramic angel. The inscription read, “Music is the bridge between heaven and earth.” If that is true, Marlene can certainly be counted among the many esteemed architects.