Merie Wilkening, of Colo passed away on October 16, 2023, Rolling Green Village in Nevada, Iowa.

A private family graveside service will be held at the Colo Cemetery in Colo.

Merie was born Sept 7, 1925, in Colo, Iowa to Sam and Mary (McIntosh) Banks. She graduated from Fernald High School in 1943 and then went on to Evangelical Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa where she graduated in 1946 with a nursing degree.

On June 29,1947, Merie was united in marriage to Merle Wilkening at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fernald, Iowa. Merle built their first house in Marshalltown, Iowa and Merie worked at the hospital there. Eventually, they moved to Story County where they farmed and raised their family, Teresa, Dennis, Chris, and Stan. Merie worked hard her whole life and instilled a strong work ethic in her children. After moving to Colo in 1999, Merie enjoyed walking every day, camping, working in her yard, reading, watching sports on tv and spending winters in Texas where Merle and Merie did lots of square dancing.

Merie is survived by her four children: Teresa (Doug) Hix, Dennis (Tonnee) Wilkening and Chris (Jodi) Wilkening of Nevada, and Stan Wilkening of Colo, eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Merie was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Merle, her parents, her sister, Sally Tjelmeland, brother, Don Banks and a granddaughter, Jennifer Witte.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.rasmsusonfh.com.