Margaret Marie Balliu, age 96, most recently located in Seattle, Wash., passed away Feb. 14, 2024.
She was born Jan. 25, 1928, to Anton “Tony” and Sarah (Rowland) Mertle in Rosebud.
Marie was an alumna of Owensville High School and the University of Missouri Columbia where she achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She married her high school sweetheart Harvard H. Meyer in Owensville. Later in life, she married William L. Balliu in Kansas City.
In her career, Marie was an early leader in her sorority and the YMCA in Columbia. She dedicated herself to being a loving mother and homemaker, then transitioned into working roles as a teacher, a social worker for the State of Missouri, and a Federal Investigator for Medicare.
As a well-read and intelligent woman with a commonsense approach to life, Marie was known for her independence, tenacity, and “get it done” attitude. She had a full active life with friends and family. Her passions included a love for traveling domestically and internationally, music, playing bridge, dancing and the arts. As a homemaker, Marie had a particularly keen eye for decorating with her collection of antiques and renovated multiple homes during her life. She continued to support Alpha Gamma Delta as an alumni during her retirement years; was a savvy investor in stock market investments; and was an advocate for good nutrition and healthy eating as an entrepreneur distributor.
She was preceded in death by sister, Alice Koepke; daughter, Christina Wood; and stepson, Bill Balliu.
Affectionately known as “Nanny,” she is survived by children, Kerry Meyer (Bill Gibbs), Tom Meyer (Linda), Bob Balliu (Gail), and Denise Kidder (Paul); grandchildren, Dan Wood (Nadia), Audrey Yancey (Dan), Brian Meyer (Suzanne), Jennifer Gibbs, Tom Gibbs (Veronica), and Isha Sharif; and great-grandchildren, Parker Wood, Eleanor Meyer, and Ashley, River, Jude, Lake and Dillinger Rix. She also cherished her pets, including both cats and dogs.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held April 13, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Owensville, (404 S 1st St, Owensville, Mo. 65066) with Fr. Philip Kane as the officiant. A visitation will start at 10 a.m. at the church. A Rosary will be said at 10:30 a.m. and the funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation, 8710 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260.
Arrangements entrusted to Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville.
