Rosalie D. Meerian

Rosalie D. Meerian, 93, of Hanover, died Sunday, July 3, 2022, at the Hanover Hospital.

She was born Jan. 12, 1929, in Beatrice, Neb., to Frank J. Witkowski and Elizabeth (Lucks) Witkowski.

Rosalie graduated from Beatrice High School in 1947. Prior to marriage, Rosalie was a member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church and enjoyed being a member of the Women’s Circle. She was employed at Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph in Beatrice for many years and had lots of fond memories of her time there.

Rosalie met Raymond J Meerian when her and friends attended a dance at Pla Mor Ballroom in Lincoln, Neb. They married on May 2, 1964, at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Beatrice. They made their home in Hanover raising their three children, Elizabeth, Frank, and Randy.

Rosalie enjoyed her sweets, baking bread, pies, and cookies for her family every weekend.

She was a member of St John’s Catholic Church, St John’s Altar Society, and the Hanover American Legion Auxiliary.

Rosalie enjoyed country music and spent much time in Branson, Mo., with her daughter Liz, attending live shows and even an early attendee of Nashville Fan Fair, where she met many country music legends. She loved to play Bingo, doing jigsaw puzzles and word searches, watching Wheel of Fortune and going for rides on the pontoon boat in Branson. Rosalie and Ray greatly enjoyed when their grandchildren (Claire, Allison, and Ben) would come to visit. There was always a tin of cookies and a loving hug for them. Rosalie dedicated a good portion of her life to taking care of the people she loved, especially her son Frank, who lived with Ray and Rosalie until she moved to Hanover Long Term Care.

She was proceeded in death by her husband Raymond, her parents Frank and Elizabeth Witkowski, her brother Richard Witkowski and his wife Alma, brother-in-law Richard Meerian, sister-in-laws Viola Wyckoff and her husband Merle, Ilean Turk and her husband George.

She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth Meerian of Hanover, her sons Frank Meerian of Greenleaf, Randy Meerian and wife Shauna of Gretna, NE, three grandchildren, Clarissa, Allison, and Benjamin Meerian of Gretna, NE, and nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be from 12 to 5 p.m., Sunday, July 10, at the Hanover Mortuary.

A rosary vigil will be held 7 p.m., Sunday, July 10, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Hanover.

The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. on July 11 at St. John’s Catholic Church. Father Joseph Kieffer will officiate.

Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Washington County News • July 7, 2022