Merle Opal Wigfield

Merle Opal Wigfield, daughter of John William Neel and Dora Emaline Engle Neel, was born August 15, 1913 near Dakota City, Iowa and died February 23, 2008 at the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home in Perry, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 6 months and 8 days. Merle attended school in Dakota City. She worked as a girl Friday and waitressed until she married Vern Wigfield July 16, 1934. She raised Vern's sons and Merle and he had three children together, JoAnn, Larry, and Donald. They lived in Carver, Minnesota for 13 years and in 1948 moved to Perry. Vern died in 1966 and Merle continued to make Perry her home. She had worked for 7 years for the Federal Government; was Head charge at B.A. U. (Behavior Adjustmen Unit), Credit Union for 3 years, Depot Agent for the Railroad after 12 years of service. Merle was a member of the First Baptist Church in Perry. She had also attended the Presbyterian Church in Perry with Vern. She enjoyed her memberships in the Camera Club; Eastern Star; and her coffee clatch. Merle was a very outgoing women who loved life, her friends and teasing. For 21 years she was a foster grandmother for the Woodward State Hospital School. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 3 brothers, Lester, Cecil, and twin brother Berle Need; 2 sisters, Violet Frederick and Gladys Dressback; and 3 grandchildren, Tony, Greg, and Cheryl. Merle is survived by her daughter, JoAnn Lingner and husband Robert of Perry, Iowa; 4 sons, Larry Wigfield and wife Bonnie of Carver, Minnesota; Don Wigfield of Perry, Iowa, Vern Wigfield and wife Anita of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and Howard Wigfield and wife ANita of Chaska. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Susan Wigfield, Andy Wigfield, Shaun Wigfield, Mary Lingner, Jolene Galvan, and Robert Lingner Jr.; great-grandchildren, Jason, Terry, McKenna, Cody, Chandra, Brandi, Nicholas, Shannon, Darin, Shawnda, and Bobby; and great-great grandchildren, Hanna, Joshua, Cassidy, Brandon, Selena, Denise, Tyler, and Tayra; sister-in-law, Verna Mae Neel of Tucson, Arizona, other relatives and friends.