Merril L. Tuttle (2019)

ABBOTT, DANIEL, FLATT, HOFFMAN, KENNEDY, MANN, OPSAL, TUTTLE

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 6/28/2024 at 12:55:29

Overton Funeral Home
Indianola, Iowa
August 2019

Services for Merril L. Tuttle, 93, who passed away Monday, August 26, 2019, at home surrounded by his family, will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 30, 2019, at the Martensdale Community Church, Martensdale, IA. Burial will follow in the St. Charles Cemetery, St. Charles, IA. The visitation will be held prior to services at the church from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

Merril Lucian Tuttle was born on May 5, 1926 in Jackson Township of Warren County near St. Charles, Iowa. He was the fourth child born to Harold E. and Orpha M. (Daniel) Tuttle. He graduated from St. Charles High School in 1943 at age 17 and was given a one year deferment from military service to help on the farm before entering the Army in December of 1944. After basic training he served one year in the Occupation of Japan in Tokyo and while in Tokyo was active in what was later to become Far Eastern Gospel Crusade (now SEND international).

After returning stateside he enrolled in Iowa State University in Dairy Testing short courses. As a dairy herd tester he traveled around Madison County for two years. During this time he met an attractive blonde through Rural Youth. Merril and Lois Jean Porter were married on April 24, 1949 at St. Charles, Iowa. To this union four daughters were born. Merril and Lois farmed and milked at various farms in Madison County while purchasing their own farm in Jackson Township, Warren County. Merril and Lois lived more than fifty years on that farm until moving into St. Charles in September 2018. Merril was always proud of his herd of purebred Angus cattle, also raised hogs, and for a short time also raised sheep.

Merril was active in the community serving on the school board and active in politics. He was a good neighbor and always willing to lend a helping hand. He loved teaching the Bible and fostering spiritual growth in others. He was a longtime member of Martensdale Community Church, teaching adult Sunday school classes, adult Bible studies and also served on the Elder Board. He often taught adult Sunday school classes at other nearby churches as well as in-home Bible studies.

Those that come behind him and have found him faithful are: his wife, Lois of 70 years, daughters: Vanna Tuttle of Story City, Becky (Greg) Abbott of Indianola, Sherry (Steve) Opsal of Clive, Debbie (Randy) Mann of rural St. Charles and brother Gene (Sandi) Tuttle of Des Moines, 9 grandchildren: Luke Mann, Dan (Lisa) Opsal, Greg (Katie) Opsal , Jeff (Nikki) Opsal, Jed (Beth) Hoffman, Abbot Flatt, Brian (Robin) Abbott, Elissa Abbott, Michael (Allison) Abbott, 14 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Those who preceded Merril in death were his parents, Harold and Orpha Tuttle, and siblings, Alden Tuttle, Lyle Tuttle, Vilna Kennedy, Wendell Tuttle, and Barbara Tuttle.

Memorials may be made in Merril’s name to EveryStep Hospice in Osceola.

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