Marilyn M. Bergfeld, 89, of Dubuque, Iowa passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Stonehill Communities, surrounded by her loving family.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12th, 2025, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road with a rosary to be held at 2:45 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13th, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Key West with Msgr. Thomas Toale officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Marilyn was born on March 2, 1936, the daughter of Carlyn and Marie (Gansen) Denlinger. She was the oldest of six children; she grew up on the family farm in rural Dubuque County.

She attended Elementary School in a one room schoolhouse and St. Joseph Key West and graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy with the “Class of 1954”. On May 15, 1956, Marilyn married the love of her life, Ralph Bergfeld. Together they raised ten children and built a beautiful life rooted in faith, devotion, and joy; much of it was spent on their family farm where hard work and love were part of every day. Marilyn and Ralph shared 58 years of marriage until his passing in 2014.

For many years, Marilyn worked at Sunnycrest Manor, retiring in the late 1990s. However, her greatest calling—and her true life’s work-was being a mother and caregiver. Her heart was generous, her presence comforting, and her love extended far beyond her immediate family.
Marilyn’s Catholic faith was steadfast and central to her life. She was an active and lifelong member of St. Joseph Parish, Key West.

She will be fondly remembered for her famous homemade long johns, eagerly devoured on Saturday mornings and cherished as a symbol of her warmth and hospitality.

Known as “GiGi” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Marilyn embraced her role as matriarch with joy and enthusiasm. She treasured time spent camping, fishing, playing Skip-Bo, Dominoes, Bingo, and enjoying countless casinos and beach trips. Her legacy of Love spans ten children, twenty grandchildren, and twenty-eight great-grandchildren.

Marilyn will be dearly missed by her children: Thomas (Linda) Bergfeld, Zwingle, Iowa, Cathy (John Ward) Arensdorff, Dubuque, Iowa, Mary Ann (Robert) DeMeyer, Cassville, Wisconsin, David (Delphine) Bergfeld, Epworth, Iowa, Laurie (James) Decker, Bellevue, Iowa, Lisa Frederick, Dubuque, Iowa, Martin (Angie) Bergfeld, Bernard, Iowa, Joani (Bill Brus) Bergfeld, Cascade, Iowa, Ami (Nick) Koos, Monmouth, Iowa and Mike Wild, Dubuque, Iowa.

Marilyn is also survived by her sister, Luann Weber; her in-laws Gib Clemen and Margie Bergfeld; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ralph; her daughter, Sara; her parents, Carlyn and Marie Denlinger; her in-laws, Clem and Margaret Bergfeld; her siblings Carol Clemen, John Denlinger, Clair Denlinger, Gladys Wernimont, and godson Gerald Clemen; in-laws Ruth Denlinger, Charlie Wernimont, Milton Weber, Bernard Bergfeld, Mary and Jack Gerdeman, Diane Sieverding, Jim and Clara Bergfeld, Roger Bergfeld, and Joseph Bergfeld.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Eagle Pointe Place, Stonehill Communities and Hospice of Dubuque for the extraordinary care they provided in Marilyn’s final weeks, and to her dear friend, Tag A Long.

May she rest in God’s eternal peace, her gentle spirit forever watching over us.