Marvella Janice Mierkowski, 98, died on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at High Point Assisted Living in Carlinville.
Visitation will be at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield on Tuesday, August 18, from 4 to 7 p.m.; the Rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Litchfield, on Wednesday, August 19, at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Daniel Willenborg presiding. Internment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Litchfield.
Mrs. Mierkowski was born in Honey Point Township in Macoupin County, on Oct. 3, 1927, to Aloysius John and Henrietta Magdalin (Hoog) Schwab. In September 1947, she and Edward Cleve Poppenhouse were married; they were together until his passing in May 1970. She was later married to Clarence Mierkowski in December 1977; he preceded her in death in 1999.
Mrs. Mierkowski was employed early in her working career by Brown Shoe Company. She painted portraits for Irvine Studio, was employed at Roller Derby Skate Corporation, and by Litchfield Community Unit School District #12, at Colt School cafeteria. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, serving as a chaplain, and she was active in the Litchfield Senior Citizens. She was devoted to her faith as a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, where she served with the St. Anne’s Society and was a past president. She was awarded the Woman of Distinction honor by Bishop John Paprocki, for her deep faith, leadership, and years of volunteer service to her parish and to her community.
She enjoyed sewing immensely, having made several dresses and tops for her daughters and granddaughters. That continued during retirement as she was well known for hemming, mending and alterations for beautiful gowns for many people in the local area.
Mrs. Mierkowski is survived by three daughters, Janice (Danny) Leonard, Theresa Behme and Mary (Brad) Bowles, all of Litchfield; a son, John Poppenhouse of Hawthorn Woods; her grandchildren, Liz (Bryan) Lusk, Ben (Johanna) Bowles, Katie (John) Wilson, all of Litchfield, Jackie (Brian) Cowley of Florida and Sherry (Dan) Weeding of Wyoming; her great-grandchildren, Hailey Marvella Wilson and Johnathon Bowles (both in Litchfield), Shane (Brandy) Leonard of Wyoming, Jackie Stone of Florida, Justin Emery, Shawn Emery and Jesse Emery, all of Illinois, Danielle Leonard, of Wyoming, Courtney Leonard and Cole Leonard, both of Illinois, and Rebecca (Sean) Cross of Nebraska;22 great-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents and her husbands, she was preceded in death by her brother, Arthur “Barney” Clayton; two sisters, Rosalie M. Winstead and Rita C. Heyen; son -in-law, David A. Behme (Theresa); and a grandson, Danny Leonard, Jr.
Please visit www.plummerfuneralservices.com to light a virtual candle, to order flowers or to find directions. The family requests in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to Holy Cross Cemetery in Litchfield or to Holy Family Church in Litchfield.
