Thrasher, Merle Jr. (1922 – 2007)

THRASHER, HAYE, SHAWVER

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 9/19/2013 at 18:49:01

Name of deceased: Merle Thrasher, Jr.

Aged: 84 yrs, 6 mo, 14 days

Residence: Earling, IA

Born: Nov. 30, 1922, in Fort Madison, IA

Died: June 13, 2007, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial; Saturday, June 16, 2007; St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Earling, IA. Rev. Bob Hoefler officiated. Burial, with Military Rites conducted by the Earling American Legion Post No. 615, was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling, IA.

Survived by: Wife of 64 years, Val Thrasher of Earling, IA; sons, Tom Thrasher (spouse, Janet) of Omaha, NE, Ron Thrasher of Omaha, NE, Randy Thrasher of Dana Point, CA, and Greg Thrasher (spouse, Nancy) of Omaha, NE; daughter, Jan (spouse, Mike) Haye of Wall Lake, IA; 10 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert Thrasher (spouse, Joan) of Burlington, IA; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Merle and Maud (Shawver) Thrasher

Education: attended school in Fort Madison, IA, and graduated from high school with the Class of 1940

Religious affiliation: Merle joined the Catholic faith as a gift to his wife for their 20th wedding anniversary

Military service: Merle entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and left for basic training to Denver, CO. He was honorably discharged from the service during World War II.

Marriage: Valeria "Val" Bentler; May 5th 1943; Denver, CO

Employment: Merle joined the Schafer pen company in Fort Madison, IA. The family moved several times within the Fort Madison and Houghton, Iowa, areas. He ventured into the feed and grain business and had also worked at the U.S. post office for a while. He sold fur coats and steel grain bins. In 1966, he sold his feed business and moved to Earling, IA, and bought a Purina dealership. He retired 27 years later in 1993.

Hobbies/Interests: Loved boating on the Mississippi river and fishing in Canada, particularly with his sons and friends, and enjoyed mushroom hunting. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh, but was also a very respectful man.

Sources: pauleyjones.com