Margaret E. “Margie” Melena, 84, of Wayne, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, at Wayne Countryview Care.
Mass Of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wayne. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wayne with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Wayne.
Memorials may be directed in care of the Melena family for later designation.
Margaret “Margie” Eileen Finegan was born Aug. 21, 1940 in Fremont to John Joseph and Ethel Elizabeth (Matz) Finegan. Growing up on a dairy farm, she was active in 4-H showing champion Brown Swiss and was named Aksarben Dairy Princess in 1957. She graduated from North Bend High School in 1958 and attended Wayne State College and Midland to earn a teaching certificate. Margie married John Melena July 8, 1961 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in North Bend. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, assistant grocery store manager and bookkeeper. When her children were in school, she worked as an assistant store manager, office assistant/loan specialist in financial aid at Wayne State College, and in accounts payable at Providence Medical Center, retiring in 2003. Margie was an active volunteer at St. Mary’s as a CCD teacher, Ladies Guild member and president, VIA president, lector, EMHC, and Parish Council president as well as on St. Mary’s Board of Education, funeral committee, and Friday morning bulletin crew. She served as Blue Devils Booster president and volunteered in the kitchen at Wayne Senior Center. She made many friends throughout the state with John’s involvement in Knights of Columbus.
Margie was a loyal supporter of the Huskers, spent countless hours enjoying softball and baseball games, and always had her rosary ready for a trip around the beads.
Survivors include her children, Terri (Don) Hypse of Wayne, John (Steph) Melena of Milford, Pat (Julie) Melena of Wayne, Bill Melena of Wayne and Molly (Casey) Schroeder of Wayne; grandchildren, Amy (Shane) Kelly, Dan (Lauren) Melena, Courtney (Walker) Barnes and Hailey Schroeder; great-grandchildren, Delaney Kelly, Braelyn Kelly, Rudy Kelly, Baker Melena, Kallie Melena and Baylor Barnes; sisters, Mary Emanuel of North Bend, and Kathi Emanuel of Omaha; sisters-in-law, Margaret (John) Cioni of Springfield, Missouri and Pat Langhorst of Liberty, Missouri; brother-in-law, Richard Dvorak of Stuart.
She was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law Frank and Eileen (Foy) Melena; husband, John Sr. on Feb. 26, 2012; sisters, Marilyn “Joanie” Preston, Lois Dvorak, and Pat Cunningham; and sister-in-law, Joan Pfeifer.
