Mielke, Merle G. 1932-1987

MIELKE, WOOD, KABEN, REAVES, HAMMER, RIDINGER, MINNER, VANDER WAAL, STRIVING, JONES, GANZA

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 5/10/2013 at 11:21:30

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register

SERVICES FOR MR. MIELKE

Merle G. Mielke, 55, 2415 East 34th St., Des Moines, died Sunday, Nov. 29, at Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines, of a heart attack.

Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at the Assembly of God with the Rev. Sam Reaves officiating. Organist was Naomi Reaves and vocalists were Mr. Mielke's daughters. Pallbearers were Doug Hammer, Dennis Mielke, Randy Minner, Sam Reaves Jr., Kenneth Ridinger and Steve Vander Waal. Burial was in the veterans section of Hazelwood Cemetery. Graveside rites were conducted by the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

The son of Walter A. and Etta L. Wood Mielke, he was born May 24, 1932, in Des Moines. He attended the Des Moines schools and served during the Korean Conflict with the United States Air Force. On Aug. 30, 1951 he was married to Lila Mae Kaben at Rapid City, S.D. They made their home in Des Moines where he worked as a machinist at Solar Aircraft Company and for Paxton Lumber Company. He retired in 1973 because of poor health.

He was a former member of Central Assembly of God, Des Moines, and the American Legion.

He is survived b his five daughters, Vickie Reaves, Oakland Acres, Melody Hammer, Montezuma, Shelly Ridinger, Spearfish, S.D., Rhonda Minner, Malcom, and Tammy Vander Waal, Paxton, Ill.; one son, Dan Mielke, Montezuma; 12 grandchildren; two sisters Madge Striving and Kahla Jones, both of Phoenix, Ariz.; and one brother Walter Mielke, Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Colleen Ganza.