Merna Burke Mahrt 1931 - 2016

BURKE, MAHRT, STINES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/9/2016 at 11:20:51

Sioux City Journal
7 December 2016

SIOUX CITY | Merna Burke Mahrt, 85, of Sioux City, passed away Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, with the Rev. Paul Andell officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Merna was born on March 12, 1931, in Emerson Neb., the daughter of Everett and Mildred Stines. She graduated from East High School 1948.

Merna married Douglas Burke on March 22, 1950. Douglas passed away in 1965. Merna then married Duane Mahrt on Sept. 18, 1967. Merna lived in Halfway, Mo., Windom, Minn., Sioux City, and Milford, Iowa.

Merna first worked at the Bell Telephone Company and stopped to raise her children. She later worked at Younker's and the Woodbury County Courthouse.

Myrna was a lifelong member of the sorority Beta Sigma Phi. Merna and Doug Burke were members of Rustin Avenue United Methodist Church, where they were both involved in the church choir and leaders of the youth group. She was also a member of various church circles in every church she attended.

Merna and Duane Mahrt attended St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Sioux City, First Lutheran Church in Milford, and Morningside Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Merna was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader. She was also a Boy Scout troop committee member. Merna was a member of the Eastern Star Lodge.

Merna is survived by her husband, Duane Mahrt; Merna's three sons, David Burke of Ocean Springs Miss., Bill Mahrt of Sioux City, and Jeff Mahrt of Spencer, Iowa and Merna's three daughters, Lynn Burke Bennett Monroy from Tucson Ariz., Renee Marks of Greeley Colo., and Sue Mahrt Wilcox of Dakota Dunes. Merna loved her 17 grandchildren, Grant, Lance, Miranda, Jack, Josephine, Graham, Lael, Dakota, Travis, Lindsey, Larry, Chris, Maggie, Angie, Andy, Allison and Ashley. Merna is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren who have all been cuddled up in the warmth of her homemade crocheted blankets.

Merna is preceded in death by her late husband, Douglas Burke; her parents; her brother, Leslie Stines; and sister, Eunice Snyder.

Pallbearers will be Chris Kukuk, Travis Mahrt, Dean Stines, David Stines, Ken Marks, and Scott Wilcox.