Lowell Duncan Marsh, 92, a resident of Greenfield, passed away on May 7, 2013, while surrounded by his loving family. He was born Sept. 12, 1920, at the family farm in Center Township, Hancock County, and was the son of the late Frank Lenson and Katie (Duncan) Marsh of Greenfield.
He was a 1939 graduate of Greenfield High School. For more than 40 years, he was employed as a machinist by Progress Tool & Engineering and later W.S. DeMoss Tool & Die Company in Indianapolis. He was a member of the Eden United Methodist Church, Hancock Lodge #101 in Greenfield, Scottish Rite Valley in Indianapolis and the Indiana Farm Bureau. Mr. Marsh served in the Army during WW II, first in the 563rd Heavy Maintenance Field Artillery & Tank Company, then later in the 545th Ordinance Heavy Maintenance Company attached to the 3rd and 9th Armies. His unit landed at Utah Beach shortly after D-Day and traveled throughout northern Europe supporting the front line tank and artillery units, some under the command of General George S. Patton. Mr. Marsh was known as the ‘DoAll Kid’ for his skill with a DoAll band saw to cut steel and make complex parts. His unit repaired all types of military equipment from mobile machine shops in the field behind the front lines. He helped build the infamous hedgerow cutter modifications to tanks which enabled them to cut through the hedge rows during the battle of St. Lo in northern France. Upon returning from the war, he used these skills for the benefit of a growing domestic economy, creating tools to make steel panels for the auto industry, consumer appliances, and even parts for the U.S. space program. Always a hard-working and dedicated family man, he enjoyed working on the family farm and tinkering with ‘Rube Goldberg’ type machines he created out of spare parts.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dortha Mae (Gangwer) Marsh; and four children: Ann (Clark) Gieseke of Sarasota, Fla., Paul (Patricia) Marsh of Naperville, Ill., Kay (Kerry) Colip of Westland, Mich., and Alan Marsh of Greenfield; six grandchildren, Andy (Mara) Gieseke of Tucson, Ariz., Elizabeth (Jace) Mouse, of Chicago, Ill., Michael Gieseke of Greenfield, Scott Colip of Indianapolis, Daniel (Rachel) Colip of New Palestine, and Shauta (Jim) Walker of Indianapolis; eleven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sue; and brother, Robert Chesteen Marsh.
Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2013, at Erlewein Mortuary and Crematory, 1484 West U.S. 40 in Greenfield, with the memorial service immediately following, with Pastor Dave Crittenden officiating. A private burial service will be held at Park Cemetery in Greenfield.
Online condolences may be sent to www.erleweinmortuary.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Eden United Methodist Church, 2122 E. Eden Rd, Greenfield, IN, 46140, or to Hancock County Community Foundation Enrichment Fund, 312 E. Main Street, Greenfield, IN, 46140, or online at www.givehcgrowhc.org.
