Marilyn Ann Klinger

Marilyn Ann Klinger, 76, of Sioux City, Iowa passed away Monday, August 3, 2026 at a local care facility.A graveside service will be held Sunday September 6 at 1:00 p.m., with Deacon Butch Stone officiating, at Wall Lake Cemetery in Wall Lake, IA.  A celebration of her life will follow at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wall Lake.  Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City.

Marilyn Ann Klinger was born May 31,1950 to Vincent (Steve) Rowan and Edna (Schultz) Rowan in Carroll, Iowa. Marilyn grew up in Wall Lake, Iowa, graduating from Wall Lake High School in 1968. Growing up in a small town Marilyn delivered newspapers on her bike route and worked as an aide at Twilight Acres. Marilyn graduated from St. Joseph’s Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa in 1971. She began her nursing career at St. Joe’s Hospital in Sioux City in the Emergency Room. Some highlights of her nursing career: she sent for the fixed wing airplane to fly her dad from Carroll Iowa to St. Joe’s Hospital when he was critically ill. She flew with him as the flight nurse. A few rules were stretched that day. When hospitals merged, she took the first patient through same day surgery and established the entire department for Mercy Medical Center. In 1989 she set up one of the triage stations and received patients for injury care when Flight 232 crash–landed at Sioux Gateway Airport. Marilyn loved being a nurse. She was a good and dedicated nurse for 54 years before retiring.

On Nov. 7, 1980 she was united in marriage to Tom Klinger. Their marriage was blessed with two sons: Shaun Thomas and Jason Rowan.

Marilyn loved to travel especially with the hospital group and later with her siblings and first cousins. She had a great sense of humor and she loved to play Bingo. She loved her two sons dearly and deeply. She welcomed her granddaughters and great grandson with open arms and was always there for them, she always put her family first. She was a wonderful aunt and cared for her parents and friends when needed. She will be missed immensely by her family, so many dear friends and all who knew her. She passed away peacefully with her loved ones at her side.

Marilyn is survived by her two sons: Shaun Klinger of Omaha, NE. Jason Klinger (s.o. Allison Burnette) of Sioux City, Ia and Tom Klinger of Estherville, Ia. Granddaughter Ashlyn Klinger of Merrill, Ia: 1 great grandson Ka’Mari and a great-granddaughter on the way; Granddaughter Tayler Nielsen. Siblings: Rosemary (Ken) Wilkens of Omaha, NE; Ken (Terri) Rowan of Omaha, NE Mary Lou Looney of Kimberling City, Mo; Larry Rowan of Peoria, AZ; many beloved nieces and nephews; her great nieces and nephews; too many special friends to name and a special family; Elizabeth, Mark, Isabel, Abigail and Liesel Wessling.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents Steve and Edna Rowan. Brother-in-law Ralph Looney. Numerous aunts, uncles and many cousins.