Eugene Jordan Merck, 13 Nov 1922 – 25 Oct 2013

MERCK, JORDAN, RANK, GOODING, SCHLESSELMAN, HENNING, WILEY, BILGRAV, ZULAUF, MAANEN, SPURGEON, BROWN, KERNS

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 10/28/2013 at 14:48:56

Eugene Jordan Merck
(November 13, 1922 - October 25, 2013)

Eugene Merck, 90 of Montezuma passed away Friday, October 25, 2013 at the Methodist West Hospital in West Des Moines. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 am Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Montezuma. Burial will be held in the Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Monday, October 28, 2013 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with the family present from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International, Montezuma Food Pantry or the United Methodist Church.

Eugene Jordan Merck, the son of Raymond and Dorothy (Jordan) Merck, was born on November 13, 1922 near Keswick, Iowa. He was a 1940 graduate of Deep River High School. On February 23, 1946, Eugene was united in marriage to Ellen Rank in Deep River. To this union three children were born, Rebecca, Lynn and JoAnn. After graduating from high school, Dwaine Gooding joined the family. Eugene began farming in the Deep River area and Iowa county before purchasing a farm near Montezuma in 1960; where he farmed for 31 years, retiring in 1991. Eugene was very innovative and enjoyed trying new techniques when it came to farming. Over the years, Eugene raised several head of cattle and hogs. He enjoyed traveling; with family and friends, fishing, playing cards and visiting his old friends at the nursing home. He was an avid reader and a Chicago Cubs and Bulls fan. After retirement, Eugene took up golf and he was very proud of his hole in one on number seven at Prairie Knolls in New Sharon. He was a member of the Montezuma United Methodist Church; where he taught Sunday School, the Farm Bureau, the Midway Grange, the Sunday Night Popcorn Group and he served on the first organized School Board at Tri-County.

His memory is honored by his wife, Ellen Merck of Montezuma; his four children, Dwaine (Vonda) Gooding of West Burlington, Rebecca (David) Schlesselman of Brooklyn, Lynn (Donna) Merck of Kalona and JoAnn (Steve) Wiley of New Sharon; his seven grandchildren, Erik (Beth) Gooding of Moorehead, MN, Ray Schlesselman of Brooklyn, Kathy (Henning) Bilgrav of Denmark, Jeannie (Christian) Zulauf of Keota, Elonda (Terry) Van Maanen of Sully, Missi (Clint) Spurgeon of Indianola, Chad Wiley of Burlington, Michelle Merck of Des Moines and Ryan (Kate) Merck of Wellman; 15 great grandchildren, David, Robert, Emma, Kaylee, Tessa, Jarret, Lily, Dru, Zoie, Trevin, Joseph, Sara, Paw, Kate and Ian; one brother, Laverne Merck of Rochester, MN; two sisters, Marlys Brown of North English and Vivian Kerns of Grimes.

Eugene is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Dorothy Merck and a brother, Arthur Merck.

Holland Coble Funeral Home
The Gazette 28 Oct 2013