Rose Marie (Brown) Wernle

Rose Marie (Brown) Wernle, whose caring manner, generosity, and willingness to help others defined her life, died at her home in Greenville on Friday, May 16, 2025, with her family at her side. She was 91.

She was born on Aug. 8, 1933, in Old Ripley Township, to Lucille and Millard Brown. Her mother was a homemaker, her father a coal miner, and Rose was always proud to be a coal miner’s daughter. She grew up in Pocahontas and graduated from Pocahontas H.S. in 1951. She and Ed Wernle were married on May 10, 1953, at the First Christian Church, in Greenville, by the Rev. Clifton Butler.

Ed was serving in the Navy at the time of their marriage, and they lived at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago for a time, then moved to Rock Island after his discharge, and later lived in Bettendorf, Iowa, before returning to Greenville in 1968.

They had five children, Deborah (Bill) Whitlock of Bluffton, SC, Cindy (Rick) Pierce of Petersburg, IL, Ed Wernle of Cape Coral, FL, Jack Wernle, also of Cape Coral, Joe Wernle of Pompano Beach, FL; and a beloved nephew, Greg Hartman of Greenville; eight grandchildren, Krissie (Steve) Sarchet, Kortney (Tony) Atchison, Josh (Emily) Whitlock, Nathan (Dara) Pierce, Jessica (John) Mizer, Brennan (Jenna) Wernle, Ava Wernle, and Jada Hartman; thirteen great-grandchildren, Kallye (Trevor) Gathe, Dylan (Sarah) Durr, Macye (Jordan) Sarchet, Kobe and Kambree Atchison, Gabriel and Hadley Whitlock, Ethan, Lincoln and Isaac Mizer, Claire Pierce and Remi Merino, and Harper Wernle; six great-great grandchildren, Reed, Stella and Maddox Gathe, Caroline and Dutton Durr,  and Mabry Williams.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed; a brother, Dennis Brown; two sisters, Donna Scholebo and Mary Louise Brown, who died in infancy.

Rose worked at many places over the years, including DeMoulin’s. Rose and Ed never knew a stranger and loved to visit with family and friends. Rose loved to dance and listen to music and was a fierce advocate for family and friends. Rose was a member of First Christian Church, and her Sunday meals following church were often filled with extended family members and friends. Rose and Ed exemplified selflessness.

Visitation: 9:00-11am., Friday, May 23, 2025, at the First Christian Church, 1100 Killarney Drive, Greenville, IL 62246.

Funeral: 11:00 am., following the visitation with the Rev. Rick Pierce officiating.

Burial: will be in the Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Greenville, IL, following the funeral.

Memorials may be given at the visitation and funeral or mailed to:

The Mt. Auburn Cemetery, 1074 Rocky Mountain Ave., Greenville, IL 62246 and/or the Bond County Hospice, 503 S. Prairie St., Greenville, IL 62246.

The family has entrusted Assalley Funeral Home in Greenville with the ceremonies.

Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories or offer condolences to the family.