MERRITT, Milo H. 1915-2009

MERRITT, ECKENROD, KIMPLE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/11/2009 at 11:49:38

OSAGE, IOWA - Milo H. Merritt, 94, of Osage died on Thursday (Jan. 8, 2009) at the Osage Rehab & Health Center.

Because he wished to be cremated, there is a gathering for family and friends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, January 17, at the Osage VFW, 3693 Highway 218 N.

Milo was born on January 3, 1915, in Allerton, Iowa, the son of William Floyd Merritt and Ina Mae Kimple Merritt. He graduated from Strawberry Point High School. Milo then hitchhiked to California and attended San Bernardino Junior College while earning room and board at an uncle's ranch. After college, he hitch-hiked back to Iowa to help out on another uncle's farm.

Milo then met the love of his life, Marjorie L. Eckenrod, and they were married on Nov. 25, 1937, in the Little Brown Church, Nashua.

They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary one month before Marjorie succumbed to Parkinson's disease on December 21, 2007.

After marriage, they moved to California where Milo worked for Lockheed Aircraft in the experimental engineering department for eight years until moving back to Iowa. Milo farmed in Osage and the David/Little Cedar areas before moving into Osage in 1973 where he sold real estate.

Milo was elected to the Iowa Senate in 1974-1978 where he served on the Education Committee and Labor Industrial Relations Committee, was chairman of the Ethics Committee and was co-chairman of the County Government Committee and Claims Budget Sub-Committee.

Milo was preceded in death by his loving wife, his parents, two brothers and a sister.

Survivors include daughter, Phyllis Beamer and husband, John, of Des Moines; daughter, Janet McGovern and her husband, Terry, of Riceville; son, Bruce Merritt and his wife, Kathy, of Massilon, Ohio; brother, Bob Merritt of Burleson, Texas; Vern Diederich (always considered a member of our family) and his wife Mary Lou; 11 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

The family is forever indebted to the loving care given to Milo and Marge at the Osage Rehab and Health Center, as well as later care given by Iowa Hospice of New Hampton and North Iowa Hospice of Charles City.

Arrangements are by Lindstrom Funeral Home,641-985-2242.

[Published in the Mason City Globe Gazette online - www.globegazette.com - 1/10/2009]