Deborah Merrill

Deborah Marie Merrill, born on February 21, 1957, in Omaha, Nebraska, grew up in East Omaha and attended Pershing School. She married at sixteen and was blessed with three daughters, Deana, Mindy, and Angela. For several years she worked alongside her mother as a headstone engraver at JF Bloom Monument Company, later finding employment at the Super 8 in Missouri Valley, Iowa. She and her family eventually settled in Woodbine, Iowa, and then Modale, Iowa, where she shared a home with her sister.

Debbie cherished her role as a mother. She found deep joy in camping and fishing with her family, often escaping to the peace of nature to recharge and explore. She loved making jams, and berry picking with her daughters became a treasured tradition. An excellent cook, she was also an avid gamer who took genuine delight in her PlayStation, finding both excitement and relaxation in its challenges. Her life was marked by heartfelt connection, spirited adventure, and unwavering warmth.

Debbie passed away on March 13, 2026, surrounded by love at her home in Modale, Iowa, at the age of 69.

She was preceded in death by her father, her mother Joan Delezene Burgmeyer James and stepfather Ivan James, her brother Donnie Burgmeyer, and her niece Emily Moser. She is survived by her daughters Deana McKay of Modale, Mindy Merrill of Elkhorn, Nebraska, and Angela Merrill of Woodbine; her sister Leslie Moser of Modale; her brother David Burgmeyer of Omaha; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; cousins, nieces, and nephews; her lifelong best friend Anita Alexander; and many other relatives and friends.