Rosalie L. "Rosie" Merrigan

Known by Rosie to family and friends, passed into the arms of Jesus at her home on Saturday, May 5, 2023. Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. at Nativity Church on Monday, May 15, 2023.  Visitation will be Sunday, May 14, 2023, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 P.M. at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. 

Rosie was born on January 29, 1939, in Ashton, Iowa, to Ed and Rose Wiltgen, who raised her with her 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Rosie graduated from Heelan High School as part of the class of 1957.  She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Mike Merrigan, on April 19, 1958.  Like every good Catholic family back then, they had 5 children in the next 5 years. She then went on to work several jobs during her working career ranging from cutting hair to owning her own beauty shop, working for H&R Block, to finishing up her career at Floyd, Green Valley and Whispering Creek golf courses.

Rosie was an avid golfer, loved playing cards with her friends and doing the morning crossword puzzle with her coffee.  But what she really loved the most was playing couples golf tournaments with her husband Mike (and usually carrying the team each time).  Where she excelled the most was being mom and teaching her children about life.  She taught them how to ride their bikes, how to drive a car, how to bake chocolate chip cookies, how to pick themselves up from a broken heart, how to advocate for what they wanted.  But most importantly, she taught them how to live a life of faith and what it meant to honor Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Grateful for having shared her life are her five children, Mike Merrigan Jr. and his wife Colleen, of Melbourne, Florida; Lorie Beckman of Sioux City; Andy Merrigan and his wife Suzi of Sioux City; Randy Merrigan of Sioux City; Teresa Ward and her husband Joe, of Des Moines, Iowa; and her brothers Ed Wiltgen of Sioux City, Iowa and Ray Wiltgen of Des Moines, Iowa. She is survived by 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.  She will be missed.  We love you Mom and Dad.  Enjoy dancing in heaven.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested any gifts be made to Nativity Church in her name.