DICKINSON, Merle 1927-2013
DICKINSON, BENJEGERDES, FENTON
Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 11/3/2013 at 17:46:22
CEDAR FALLS, IOWA - Merle Dickinson, 86, of Cedar Falls, formerly of Sioux City, died at Windsor Nursing & Rehab Center on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, of natural causes.
Merle was born on Jan. 3, 1927, in Manly, the son of Earl and Lizzie Benjegerdes Dickinson.
He graduated from Manly High School, enlisted in the Army and served in Germany for two years.
He then attended ISTC (UNI), graduating with BA and MA in Business Education.
He married Phyllis Fenton on June 12, 1949, in Waterloo. They moved to Mason City where Merle managed agriculture-related businesses for several years.-He later taught distributive education in Charles City before moving to Sioux City to become Business Dept. Chairman at Western Iowa Community College. In 1978 he began work with Goodwill Industries, becoming Vice President of Finance before retiring in 1992. He and Phyllis then moved to Waterloo and launched Dickinson Tours, hosting trips to musical events throughout the Midwest.
Merle’s number one hobby was Barbershop singing. He co-founded and directed choruses in Mason City and Sioux City, served as Central States District President and on the Barbershop Society International Board. He was President of Sioux City Kiwanis Club and Lt. Governor of the Iowa‑Nebraska District of Kiwanis International. He served as choir director and soloist for many churches throughout his life.
Merle and Phyllis shared music, their gift from God, wherever they lived or traveled.
He is survived by his wife of Cedar Falls; daughter Lynn (Gary) Kloberdanz of Waterloo; daughter Jan (Duane) Hendrickson of Medina, Minn.; daughter Dawn (Jon) Pegis of Skokie, Ill.; nine grandchildren: Angela Feddersen, Brandt (Michele) Slivken, Leah (Aaron) Novak, all of Colorado; Erik Slivken of Seattle, Wash.; David Hendrickson and Kathleen Hendrickson of Medina, Philip (Kelly) West, Peter (Samantha) West of Tulsa, Okla., Stephen West of Amsterdam; five stepgrandchildren: Tara Gallardo, Brett Kloberdanz, Jason (Melissa) Kloberdanz and Michael & Jason Pegis; five great-grandchildren: Garrett and Elsa Heinze, Isabella West and Eliza and Charlie Novak: four stepgreat-grandchildren: Diego, Andres and Brisa Gallardo and Kiley Kloberdanz.
Merle was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Carroll of Mason City.
Celebration of Life Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Waterloo First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. Monday at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.
Visitation will be 3:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Locke Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the church or Goodwill Industries of Sioux City, Iowa, 5931 Gordon Dr., Sioux City, 51106
Condolences may be left at www.LockeFuneralHome.com . Arrangements by Locke Funeral Home Inc.
Locke Funeral Home, 1519 West Fourth St., Waterloo, Iowa, 319-233-6138.
Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 3 NOV 2013
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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