Merle D. Steenhard

Merle D. Steenhard, 87, of Rockwell, IA, died Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at the Rockwell United Methodist Church, 303 Monroe Street, with Rev. Travis Stevick officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Friday, October 23, 2015, at the Rockwell United Methodist Church. Interment will take place in the Rockwell Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Rockwell United Methodist Church or the Mercy Heart & Vascular Institute, C/O Sharon Zirbel, 250 S. Crescent Drive, Mason City, IA 50401.

Merle was born October 12, 1928, in Meservey, IA, the daughter of Carl and Alma (Gobeli) Hopkey. Following graduation from Meservey High School in 1945, Merle worked as a Nurses Aid at the Hampton Hospital. On October 16, 1946, she married George O. Steenhard at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. George and Merle were married for 68 years and were inseparable. Merle’s devotion to George went beyond fondness and affection. He was the center, the anchor and pivot of her life and everything they did was with and for each other. In 1980, the family moved to Rockwell where Merle enjoyed being a farm wife and homemaker. She enjoyed baking pies and cookies and taking care of her home. When health was good they enjoyed going to Arizona in the winter and visiting family while there. She devoted her life to her husband and her family. Merle was a member of the Rockwell United Methodist Church where she was very active. She was also a new member of the Senior Citizens in Rockwell.

Merle is survived by 2 daughters: Vicky (David) Klang of Clear Lake, IA, and Debra (Tom) Weaver of Dougherty, IA; and 1 son: Gary (Darla) Steenhard of Rockwell. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband George on March 20, 2015; 1 sister: Alverda Koenen; and 1 brother: Ardell Hopkey.