Vern M. MERFELD

MERFELD, BRUNNER, EWEN, BUDAK, PETERSON, STAUDT, OSWALD, CRACCO, FINK, JANSEN, ENGELS, FOXEN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/14/2011 at 13:43:52

Obituary - Vern M. Merfeld

A funeral mass was held for Vern M. MERFELD, 93, of Greene at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greene, IA. The Reverend Monsignor Walter BRUNKEN officiated. Burial was in St. Patrick's Cemetery at Dougherty.

Mr. MERFELD died Tuesday, June 3, 2003 at Liebe Care Center, Greene.

Vern was born December 12, 1909 the youngest of nine children of Matt and Mary (BRUNNER) MERFELD. He attended rural school at Greene and St. Mary's Academy, Greene. Vern farmed with his father for several years in the Greene area.

He married Kathryn (Katie) EWEN on February 15, 1939 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Dougherty. Following retirement Vern's parents made their home with Vern and Katie on their farm near Dougherty. While living in the Dougherty area Vern served as a trustee on the church board and was a member of the Holy Name Society. In 1971, retiring from farming, Vern and Katie moved to Greene. He enjoyed playing cards, fishing and watching boxing on television. Vern and Katie will be remembered by their family as very loving and generous parents and grandparents. They were strong proponents of education. As a young man Vern helped with the construction of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greene, where he was a member for many years.

He was preceded in death by his wife Kathryn on December 13, 1987; a son Joseph MERFELD on May 9, 1954; seven brothers Roy, Ed, George, Clyde, Henry, Father Howard, and Harry; a sister Laura POPES; a son-in-law Tony BUDAK and grandson-in-law John PETERSON.

Vern's survivors include seven children: Elizabeth (Betty) STAUDT and husband Donald , Mason City, Barbara BUDAK, LaGrange, IL, Alice OSWALD and her husband Richard, Annandale, NJ, Ann CRACCO, Cedar Falls, James MERFELD and his wife Marilyn, Clear Lake, Tom MERFELD and his wife LeAnn, Osage; Veronica FINK and husband James, Waverly; 20 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; a former son-in-law Sal CRACCO of Cedar Falls; sisters-in-law Edna MERFELD, New Virginia; Hannah JANSEN, Nora Springs; Helen ENGELS and husband Emil, Rockford; Agnes FOXEN, Rockford; Doris EWEN, Clear Lake and Lillian EWEN, Nora Springs.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2011