Stockdale, Merle A. 1919 – 2002

STOCKDALE, JENSEN, HALVERSON, MEDINA

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:23

Source: Riceville Recorder; Aug. 22, 2002 Page 9
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by Joy Moore

Merle A. Stockdale, 83
Funeral services were held for Merle A. Stockdale on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at the Cherry Grove Methodist Church in Cherry Grove, Minn, with the Rev. Mark Rader officiating. Burial was in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lime Springs, Iowa.
Merle A. Stockdale passed away on August 14, 2002 at the Ostrander Nursing Home.
Stockdale was born March 2, 1919 in Riceville, Iowa to John Stockdale and Olga Jensen Stockdale. He grew up on a farm north of Lime Springs, and attended schools in York Township, Fillmore County. He enjoyed acting and was in several plays. He worked on the family farm and also for area neighbors. At 18, he left home and moved to Duluth, Minn, where he joined the Merchant Marines serving as Wheelman on an ore freighter on the Great Lakes. While on leave in Duluth he met Illene Halverson and they were married on December 25, 1942. After his release from the Navy in 1946, the couple moved to California where he worked for International Harvester as a metal finisher. In 1947, they moved to the farm in York Township and started a dairy and hog farm. They have lived there for 49 years. During that period, they lived in Denver, Colo, for several years where the{sic} worked for Railroad Express. During that time, Merle and Illene did Foster Care for several children.
He enjoyed leather crafting, hunting, trapping and fishing. He especially enjoyed riding his four-wheeler even in later years.
Stockdale is survived by his wife, Illene, of 59 years of Lime Springs, a son, Sheldon and his wife Carol of Bemidji, Minn., a daughter Sharon and husband Don Medina of Denver, Colo, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a brother, Dale (Elaine) Stockdale of Grand Meadow, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

Pleasant Hill Cemetery
 

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