Melissa “Mel” Murray-Rouw, age 53, passed away at her home on January 7, 2025.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Grimes Community Center (410 SE Main St., Grimes, IA 50111) from 4:00-8:00 p.m. An afterparty will be held at Rehab from 9:00 p.m. to close.

Mel was born December 10, 1971, in Des Moines, Iowa. She attended Dallas Center-Grimes schools and graduated from Hoover High School. She worked as an admin for Smith’s Sewer after working in childcare for nearly 20 years.

Mel was a nurturer at heart. She loved spending her time in the company of others whether at the bar with her friends or hanging out with her family. She enjoyed plants and animals throughout her life. Mel kept a garden over the years and would oftentimes sit on her back porch to watch the groundhog and deer across the street, and the woodpecker in her tree.

Mel is survived by her sons, Joshua Allan Rouw (Kate Thomson) and Lucian Jonathan Rouw; fiancé, Roy Jacobson; mother, Mary Wright-Jones; stepfather, Joseph Jones; brother, Michael (Lora) Murray; nephews, Gabriel Murray, Jonathan Murray, and Matthew Murray; former husband, Andrew Rouw; stepson, Michael Jacobson; stepdaughter, Aimee Jacobson; close friends, Nola Olson, Lisa Braafhart, and Patricia Walker; as well as her beloved cats, Ellie and Nollie.

She was preceded in death by her adopted father, Dennis Murray; biological father, Mark Ambrose; and grandparents, John and Mildred Wright.

Celebration of Life

Apr

12

Grimes Community Center

410 SE Main St.
Grimes, IA 50111

4:00 PM - 8:00 PM