Rowena E. (Merriman) Voglewede

Rowena E. Voglewede, 86, of Decatur, passed away Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Adams Woodcrest. She was born in Salem, IN, on March 25, 1938, the daughter of the late Omer and Mary (Carr) Merriman. On May 3, 1958, she married James “Jim” Joseph Voglewede, after 55 years he preceded her in death on June 8, 2013.

She was a parishioner of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church and graduated in 1956 from Monmouth High School. She was a lifelong homemaker and raised her 8 children and loved and cared for her many grandchildren. She also worked at Adams Distributing, as an office manager for over 20 years.

Rowena was an avid bowler and enjoyed playing volleyball. She also loved attending her grandkid’s sporting events and tending to her gardens. She along with her late husband were diehard St. Louis Cardinals fans.

She is survived by her 4 sons, Jim (Sandy) Voglewede Jr. of Decatur, Steve (Loan) Voglewede of Orlando, FL, Mike (Shirley) Voglewede of Ft. Wayne, and Greg (Teresa) Voglewede of Decatur; 4 daughters, Nancy (Tony) Staub of Decatur, Becky (Romi) Bose of Naperville, IL, Patty (Mike) Ainsworth and Amy (Travis) Moser both of Decatur; a brother and sister-in-law, Jerry (Carolyn) Voglewede of Decatur; 2 sisters-in-law, Jan Voglewede of New Haven and Marge Merriman of Decatur; 25 grandchildren, Tabitha, Mikayla, James, Leah, Benjamin, Justin, Ashley, Jason, Aaron, Brandon, Miranda, Cameron Voglewede, Tyler, Damon, Peyton, Caden Staub, Maya, Adam, Tristan Bose, Sam, Emma, Joe Ainsworth, Devin, Nick, and Lucas Moser; 13 great grandchildren.

Rowena was preceded in death by her brother, Jim Merriman, 2 sisters, Rose Kneuss and Sue Yodice.

Visitation will be from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Haggard-Hirschy & Zelt Funeral Home, with a reciting of the Holy Rosary at 1:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 10, 2025, in St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, with visitation an hour prior to the Mass from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the St. Mary’s Parish Hall. Father David Ruppert will be presiding and burial will take place immediately following in St. Joesph Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to ACCF Jim & Rowena Voglewede Community Enrichment Fund or St. Joseph Catholic School.

Arrangements are entrusted to Haggard-Hirschy & Zelt Funeral Home.

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