MERLE FRANK RUCKDASHEL 1924-1999

DICKENS, RUCKDASHEL, JOHNSON, HARTLEY, FRANZEN, LANCASTER

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 3/26/2005 at 20:24:46

Merle Ruckdashel

Funeral services for Merle Ruckdashel were held Saturday, October 23, 1999 at 11 a.m. in the West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont. The Rev. David R. Nelson officiated. Brenda Steffans was the organist with special music by Arthur and Clarence Amundson. The Schutte Funeral Service of Clermont was in charge of arrangements. Inurnment was in God's Acre Cemetery at Clermont.

Merle Frank Ruckdashel, the son of Alfred Ruckdashel and Ina Lafancy (Dickens) Ruckdashel, was born July 25, 1924 on the Ruckdashel family farm where he lived in Fayette County, west of Elgin, Iowa. He passed away Wednesday, October 20, 1999 in Palmer Luthern Health Center at West Union, Iowa. He had reached the age of 75 years.

He was baptized into the Baptist Sunday School at Elgin on December 8, 1924. He attended the country school near his home and the Elgin High School. He was confirmed into the Lutheran faith in 1946.

On August 12, 1945 he was united in marriage with Mildred Arlene Johnson in the West Clermont Lutheran Church. To this union two children were born, a son, Philip Lee and a daughter, Sharon Kay.

Merle farmed on the Ruckdashel home farm all of his life. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also liked to travel to visit family and friends. Merle and his son, Philip, raised purebred Herefords, and Merle was a member of the American Hereford Cattle Association. He was a 4-H leader for many years and drove a school bus. He also enjoyed playing cards and dominos and visiting with his many friends.

In 1988 Merle was admitted to Covenant Hospital in Waterloo where he underwent brain surgery. While he could no longer farm on his own, he helped his son during the summer. His health problems took their toll and he was forced to retire completely from farming this last year.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene, his daughter, Sharon and her husband, Dick Hartley, of Trona, CA, his son, Philip Ruckdashel and his wife, Jaynee of rural Elgin, six grandchildren, Sarah Hartley of Bakersfield, CA, Joshua Hartley of San Diego, CA, Jeremy Ruckdashel of Elgin, IA, Jamie Ruckdashel of Waterloo, IA, Jennifer and husband, Paul Franzen of Elgin, and Gene Ruckdashel and wife, Jaime of rural Clermont, IA, seven great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Katrina, and Paul Joseph Franzen of Elgin, Zackary, Larisa, Allyson, and Isaiah Ruckdashel of Clermont, and a brother, Clarence Ruckdashel and wife, Beverly of Trona, CA.

He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Florence and husband, Hollis Lancaster, and one brother, Robert, who died in infancy.

Merle was a member of the West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont.

Casket bearers were Jeremy Ruckdashel, Jamie Ruckdashel, Gene Ruckdashel, Joshua Hartley, and Larry Ruckdashel. Honorary casket bearers were Dwaine Stahr, Leon Jacob, Richard Jensen, Arnold Sanders, William Dummermuth, Peter Luchsinger, Norman "Dale" Willadsen.

Postville Herald-Leader newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.

Submitter not related -- posted for benefit of others.