BROWN, Merle H. (1919-2003)

BROWN, WILLIAMS, HAUPTLY, WEBNER, GORDER, BELL, CULBERTSON

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 9/24/2021 at 20:02:13

Merle H. Brown 1919-2003

Merle H. Brown, 84, of Garner died Sunday, December 28, 2003, at the Concord Care Center, Garner.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 31, at the United Methodist Church in Garner with the Rev. David Wagner officiating. Music was provided by organist, Mary Kopacek who accompanied vocalists, Bernie and Tyler Urich and congregational hymns. Ushers were Maynard and Marvin Schoneman.

Honorary bearers were the Garner Lions Club and the North Garner Community Club. Casket bearers were Garry Brown, Don Brown, John Monson, Daryl Upmeyer, Dale Upmeyer and Larry Nelson. Burial was in the Concord Township Cemetery with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit. The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Merle Hay Brown, the son of Iver and Fern (Williams) Brown, was born August 29, 1919, at West Bend. He grew up in West Bend, Rolfe, Britt, Corwith and the Woden areas and received his education in the Des Moines Township School. He served his country during WW II in the Army Air Force as an airplane maintenance technician in the 49th fighter squadron. Merle served in the European, North African and Middle Eastern Theatre campaigns. He was awarded 12 bronze stars, a good conduct medal and the European, African, Middle Eastern Service Ribbon. Following his honorable discharge in 1945, he attended air conditioning and refrigeration school in Chicago.

On February 12, 1947, he married LaVon Hauptly at the Methodist Church in Woden. The couple lived and farmed in the Wesley and Woden area and in 1959 purchased a farm north of Garner. They lived there until 1980 when they retired and built a home in Garner. In the mid-1960s he attended the Reisch World Wide Auction School in Mason City. He and his partner, Harold Bryan, worked auctions for 20 years. Merle was also a county dealer for Archer Oil for many years. He drove a school bus for the Garner-Hayfield school district for 12 years.

Merle and LaVon loved to travel and visited Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Nova Scotia, Australia, Mexico and Canada. They wintered in Texas for 12 years. Merle took up golfing in his retirement and enjoyed coffeeing with the "Breakfast Bunch" as well as fishing trips and family gatherings.

Merle was very active in the United Methodist Church where he served on the administrative board, was head usher and belonged to the Men's group. He was active in Pork Producers, serving as president for four years. He served on the Extension Council for six years, was on the Farm Bureau Board, served as an assessor in Hancock County and was a Hancock County Supervisors for four years. He was an active member of the Garner VFW and American Legion and participated in the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit for many years. He was involved as a director of North Iowa Community Action, director of Elderbridge and was a Senior Citizens Advocate. Merle and LaVon were members of the Rainbow Swingers Square Dance Club and the North Garner Community Club.

He is survived by his wife, LaVon of Garner; daughter, Linda Webner and husband, Earl of Garner and their two children, Alex Webner of Garner and Heather Gorder and husband, Bryan and daughters, Mandy and Callie all of Garner; daughter, Patsy Bell and husband, Douglas and their children, Kevin and Emily all of Nora Springs; a brother, Myron Brown and friend, Jeanette of Mount Pleasant, Texas; sisters-in-law, Verna Brown of Britt and Velma Culbertson and husband, Frances of Titonka; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Ranae Brown; his parents; and brothers, Milton and wife, Donabelle, Robert and wife, Rosetta, Richard and wife, Viola and Newell and Harold Brown.

©The Garner Leader & Signal, 7 Jan 2004, page 6 column 1