MERWIN, James (Jim) C. 1924 - 2014

MERWIN, EYESTONE, HILL, LYON, WILSON, MILAM, EBAUGH, ANDERSON, ZIRBEL, LEVISAY

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/28/2014 at 12:05:46

JAMES (JIM) C. MERWIN

CLEAR LAKE -- James (Jim) C. Merwin, 90, of Clear Lake, died Sunday, June 15, 2014, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, from injuries he sustained in a vehicle accident, June 6.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at the First Congregational Church, 205 W. 10th Ave. N., Clear Lake, with Pastor Dennis Ganz officiating.
Visitation with family and friends will be at 1 p.m. Thursday until the service. Inurnment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Clear Lake VFW.

Memorials may be given to Hospice of North Iowa or the First Congregational Church.

Jim was born February 9, 1924, in Jasper, Texas, to Rev. Chauncey and Alice (Eyestone) Merwin. The family lived many years in Texas, moved to Des Moines, Iowa, then to Clear Lake in 1933 where Jim attended school, and later moved with his family to Jackson, Tenn., where he graduated from high school in 1943.

Immediately following graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and served overseas for 25 months in India, with Headquarters Company Port of Debarkation and Headquarters Company Base Section, India Burma Theater. He was in charge of a mail section which handled official and personal mail for the headquarters. He supervised 13 men, which included typist, orderlies, messengers, file clerks and registration clerks on distribution of correspondence and publications. He was honorably discharged April 4, 1946.

After serving his country he became the “unofficial greeter” at the Clear Lake Post Office as he served as the front window clerk for 33 years until he retired in 1979.

Jim was a member of the First Congregational Church and the Clear Lake Noon Lions Club. He was “Uncle Jim” to lots of people in the Clear Lake area, as well as a wonderful dog sitter, house sitter, cleaner, etc. He delivered many loaves of homemade bread to people in Clear Lake and was always willing to help wherever he could.

He is survived by four sisters, Ruth (Richard) Hill of Mason City, Iowa, Sara (Ed) Lyon of Memphis, Tenn., Carol Mae Wilson of Jackson, Tenn., and Pauline Milam, Newburgh, Ind.; one brother, Rev. Paul (Tillie) Merwin of McKenzie, Texas, sister-in-law Judy (Walter) Merwin Johnson, Franklin, Tenn., many nieces, nephews and a special friend Alice Dorrill of Boston, Mass.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Chauncey and Alice Merwin, sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Ebaugh, Helen (Jim) Anderson, Kathryn (Stan) Zirbel, Jane (Jim) Levisay, Doris (John) Bowman, Althea (Jim) McClendon, brothers and sisters-in-law Art (Mabel) Merwin, Ralph (Helen) Merwin and Rev. David Merwin.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, IA 50428; 641-357-2193