Lucille H. Merkes
June 17, 2015Share using:
Lucille Helen “Lou” Merkes, 79, of Dubuque, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at Unity Point Health, Finley Hospital from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Funeral mass will be at 10:30a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2015 at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Ghost Church with Rev. Dwayne Thoman officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Friends may call from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, June 26th at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road where there will be a wake service at 7:30 p.m.
Lucile was born on December 12, 1935 in Bellevue, Iowa the daughter of Joseph and Helena (Steichen) Roling. She was the 12th child of 13 children.
She graduated from St. Joseph’s in Bellevue, Iowa and cosmetology school in Dubuque. After graduation she worked at Vanity Fair Beauty Salon.
Lucille was united in marriage on June 28, 1960 to John Merkes at St. Joseph’s Church in Bellevue. In addition to raising her own four children (Allen, Sheila, Carl and Sara) Lucille also babysat for her grandchildren and for many other little ones.
She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States with her husband, family and friends. Lou and John visited 49 of the 50 states. They have many fond memories of the times they spent on bus trips with the John Deere retirees. One of her most memorable trips was to the Panama Canal. They also loved to go dancing every weekend, listen to their favorite bands, and playing cards. Lou and John were always together.
Lucille also enjoyed baking, babysitting, gardening, canning, embroidering, crocheting, painting, decorating for the holidays, and making wooden dollhouses, barns, and toys for children to play with. Lucille enjoyed life and she will be missed.
Lucille is survived by her husband John Merkes, three children, Sheila (Jerry) Helbing, of Dubuque, Carl (Anne) Merkes, of Chesapeake, VA and Sara (Tim) Hilby, of Dubuque. Ten grandchildren, Hollie Helbing, Cody Merkes, Brittany Helbing, Nathan Helbing, Samantha Hilby, Sierra Merkes, Keith Hilby, Clayton Hilby, Garrett Helbing and Jesse Hilby. Her sister Isabelle Stillmunkes and brother and sisters-in-law, Marcy Roling, Rosemary Roling, Leona Roling, Alvin Kilburg, Teresa Foxen, Mary Jane and Joel Glennon, Theresa Merkes, Arnie and Jackie Merkes and Peter Merkes.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son Allen Merkes, her siblings and their spouses, Vincent (Mary) Roling, Arthur (Agnes) Roling, Raymond (Rita) Roling, Richard (Carol) Roling, Bernice (Robert) Heim, Estelle Kilburg, Glen Roling, Ida (Cletus) Herrig, Orville Roling, Raymond Stillmunkes, Aloysius Roling, and Virginia (Robert) Deppe.
“Thank you for all the good times we had together. I love you all.” – Love, Lucille
