MERRIAM, Wilbur J. (1926-2001)

MERRIAM, TOILLION, THOMPSON, BENSON, ECKERMAN, CRAMER, SCHILTZ, ADAMS, BARRY, UMTHUN, BROWN

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society (email)
Date: 3/10/2016 at 15:57:10

W. J. 'TINY' MERRIAM

CORWITH - Funeral services for W. J. "Tiny" Merriam, 74, of Corwith, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Corwith with the Rev. Marvin Bries officiating. Military rites will be handled by American Legion Post No. 229.

Visitation will be held from noon until 1 p.m. Saturday at the church with a rosary at 12:45 p.m.

Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home in Corwith is in charge of arrangements.

W. J. "Tiny" Merriam was born on Nov. 28, 1926, in rural LuVerne, to Albert and Florence Toillion Merriam. He grew up in the Corwith area and attended Corwith and LuVerne schools. After his schooling he joined the U.S. Army.

Tiny was united in marriage to Virginia Thompson on Aug. 10, 1947, in Corwith. The couple farmed in the Corwith and LuVerne areas until 1968. Virginia died on Dec. 31, 1972.

Tiny then managed Custom Farm Services and three fertilizer plants for five years. Tiny was united in marriage to Marlene Benson on July 28, 1973, in Nashua, Iowa. He then worked for Lauridsen Foods for nine years in Britt from 1979-1988.

Tiny was a member of the high school baseball state championship team in 1943, loved to play softball, bowl and all sports especially the Hawkeyes and the Vikings.

He was a member of the American Legion, Eagle Grove Knights of Columbus, past president of the Community Club, member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and was a chief warrant officer in the Army Reserves from which he retired in 1986.

Tiny died on Monday (Feb. 5, 2001) at Hancock County Memorial Hospital at the age of 74. The body was donated to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for scientific study and burial will be take place at a later date.

He is survived by his wife; Marlene, of Corwith; children, Kathy and husband, Bruce Eckerman, of Ankeny. Kris and husband, Bob Cramer, of Cedar Rapids, Tom Merriam and wife, Colleen, of Garner, MariRae and husband, Mike Schiltz, of Warrensburg, Mo., Connie and husband, Gary Adams, of Algona, Paulette and husband, Don Barry, of Clever, Mo., Rhonda and husband, Ken Umthun, of Eagle Grove, and Cary Brown and wife, Kathy, of Woden; 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his brother, Phil Merriam and wife, Nannette, of Louisville, Ky.; and sister-in-law, Jane Merriam, of Fort Dodge.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia; two brothers and two sisters.

Memorials can be sent to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Corwith or to the Vanderbilt University Shy-Drager Research Fund, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, AA-3228 Medical Center North; Nashville, Tenn. 37232-2195.

Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home, (515) 583-2469.

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 8 Feb 2001