Obituary of Mercedes Joy Wogan

Mercedes J. Wogan Mercedes Wogan of Newton passed from this life on Saturday evening, March 12, 2016, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. Mercedes Joy Wogan, 81, was born June 30, 1934, in Newton, the daughter of Alvin and Brunhilde (Traube) Kilker. Her family then moved to the Marshalltown area, where she spent most of her early years on the family farm in Marshall County. She spent most of her high school years in Union, where she was active in the music program, chorus, sextet and a barber shop quartet. Her family moved to Des Moines her senior year, and she graduated from East High School, Class of 1952. Shortly after graduation, she married Dale Wogan in Union. To this union five children were given: Teresa, Ted, Laurie, Cynthia and Peggy. Her daughter Teresa passed away in 1975, and Mercedes and Dale adopted her little girl, Traci. In 1977, she moved to Newton, and was employed by the State of Iowa with the Department of Human Services, retiring in 1999. She later worked part-time for Wal-Mart. Mercedes was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Dale; two daughters: Teresa Bryant and Laurie Howard; and a great granddaughter Taylor Rice. Mercedes enjoyed computers and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, she will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. Mercedes is survived by her children: Ted (Carolyn) Wogan, Cynthia Ellis, Peggy (Tom) Fjelstad and Traci Kauffman; her ten grandchildren: Troy Ellis, Dustin Ellis, Dakotah Hixson, Tony Robeson, Miranda Robeson, Andrew Robeson, Chelse Kaufman, Katie Raeder, Billy Cox and Samara Hansen; fifteen great-grandchildren; her sister Rebecca Porter (Eugene Crandal); and many friends. Visitation will be 5p.m. until 7p.m., Wednesday, March 16, at the Pence~Reese Funeral Home in Newton. A time of remembrance and the funeral services will be 11a.m., Thursday, March 17, 2016, at the funeral home, and burial will be in the Milford, Iowa Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left in Mercedes' name or a charity of your choosing.