HOBBS, Merle H. 1921-1997

HOBBS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/27/2009 at 00:10:32

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA -- Merle H. Hobbs, 75, of St. Ansgar, died Friday, March 14, 1997, at the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church, St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Ted Stowers officiating. Military honors will be by the Walter T. Enneberg Post #358 of the American Legion, St. Ansgar. Burial will be at a later date at the St. Ansgar Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Merle was born April 28, 1921, south of St. Ansgar. He attended various country schools in the St. Ansgar area. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School and also graduated from Kansas City School of Watchmaking with Horology, jewelry and hand engraving degree.

Merle's military career included serving in the U.S. Navy as Chief Gunner's Mate aboard the USS Houston until it was sunk by the Japanese. He was a prisoner of war for three years and forced to perform slave labor on the Burma death railroad and the Bridge Over the River Kwai. He spent 3 years in hospitals recovering from various illnesses contracted in the jungles of Burma.

On February 14, 1946, Merle married Marilyn Hobbs, widow of Hilmer Hobbs, Merle's brother, who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge. Merle served a watchmaking apprenticeship in Charles City. He owned and operated Merle's Jewelry in Marengo from 1956 to 1977, retiring in St. Ansgar.

He was a member at various times of the Marengo Development Board, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Masonic Temple, Marengo Hospital Board, Marengo Methodist Church Board, a 50-year Legion member and a member of numerous veterans and POW organizations. His interests included fishing, bowling, golfing and hunting.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn of St. Ansgar; four sons, Bradley of Des Moines, Rocky of Rockwell, Tracy of Cape Fair, Mo., and Robin of Marengo; one sister, Ruth Wolff of St. Ansgar; nine grandchildren, John Havill, Jessica, Ellie Jo, Kari, Amos, Lucas, Marissa, Michelle and Derek Hobbs; and two great-grandchildren, Alexander and Zachary.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Agnes Hobbs; one brother, Hilmer; and one sister, Mary Wolff.

[Based on an obituary in Mason City Globe-Gazette; Mar. 17, 1997]

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