Baxter, Merlin L. 1943-2004

BAXTER, REINER, ONSTOT, CLARK, SHEA, SAVAGE, DEVOLL

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/14/2005 at 08:43:17

Newton Daily News, Newton, Ia, Tuesday, October 5, 2004

COUNCIL BLUFFS -- Merlin L. Baxter, 61, of Council Bluffs, formerly of Newton, died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2004, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton with the Rev. Larry Spader of Community Heights Alliance Church officiating. Burial will be at Our Silent City Cemetery in Kellogg.

Visitation will be held after 5 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, where the family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials will be accepted in his name and may be left at the funeral home.

The son of John and Elsie (Reiner) Baxter, he was born Sept. 4, 1943, in Hedrick. He attended Hedrick and Ottumwa schools before obtaining a GED. On June 29, 1973, he married Janice Onstot in Norwalk. He worked for Maytag Company for 22 years before he retired.

Mr. Baxter was a member of the Grinnell Elks Club and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He lived in Newton and Kellogg before moving to Council Bluffs. He enjoyed fishing and watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Cubs.

Survivors include his girlfriend, Linda Schultz of Council Bluffs; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Ted and Brook Baxter of Ankeny, Chris and Cindy Baxter of Georgia and Tommy Baxter of Russell; six daughters and four sons-in-law, Pam and John Clark, Susie Baxter and Sally Baxter, all of Canada, Becky and Tim Shea and Beth Savage, all of Newton, and Cathy and Marshall Devoll of Bussie; 17 grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Melvin and Deb Baxter of Moscow and Mervin and Marcine Baxter of Richland.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.