Melva J. March

SIOUX CITY -- Melva J. March, 83, of Sioux City passed away peacefully Monday, July 12, 2010, at a local nursing home, after a long illness, surrounded by her family.

Memorial services will be held at a later date in Kingsley, Iowa, where she was born and raised. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berger Funeral Home.

Melva was born on March 11, 1927, in Kingsley, Iowa, to Clarence and Margaret (Sitzman) Warneke. She graduated from Kingsley High School. After graduation Melva worked at several Kingsley businesses and also for her brother at the 959 Club in Sibley, Iowa to help support her family. Later on she attended Stewart's School of Hair Styling in Sioux City. Upon graduation, she owned her own beauty salon in Kingsley and also worked with her sister-in-law, Maxine March, at M and M Beauty Shop also in Kingsley. She became an instructor at Stewart's in Sioux City and taught for several years teaching many students cosmetology and especially the art of finger waving.

Melva married Wyman L. March, also of Kingsley. To this union three children were born.

Melva enjoyed life, she always had a joke or a story to tell. She adored animals, enjoyed bowling and loved going to dances where you could always find her on the dance floor.

Melva is survived by two sons, Joseph Michael (Karen) of Kingsley and Terry Lee of Sioux City; one daughter, Mary Margaret (Melissa) of Sioux City; one brother, John "Pudge" Warneke of Wollford Heights, Calif.; three grandchildren, Jackie (Brian) Crampton, Sandy (Jason) Fett and Scott (Cindy) March; and eight great-grandchildren, Courtney, Cassandra, Dallas, Damon, Sarah, Briana, Aiden, and Lily.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A very special thank you to Dr. Carol Roge and her nurses, Nancy Y. and Nancy S., for years of wonderful care. Thank you to all the staff at Touch Stone Living Center for making Melva's daily life pleasant. Thank you, Hospice of Siouxland for keeping Melva comfortable in her final days.