Royalance George Merkel (1929-1952)

MERKEL, CALLISON, EWING

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Nevada Evening Journal May 13, 1952 (page 4)

Final Rites For Royalance Merkel

McCALLSBURG -- Funeral services for Royalance G. Merkel og Huntsville, Texas, were held May 4th at the Brouhard funeral home in Zearing, he having passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage April 30, at Cleveland, Tenn., as he was conversing with the ministry.

Brother Howard Thomas, Iowa State Overseer for the Church of God of Prophecy of Boone, officiated. He was assisted by Brother John Stubbs, State Overseer of East Texas, Brother Bradley Dueberry of Huntsville, Texas represented the Biblical Wonder Co., of east Texas as honor guard.

Music was furnished by Mrs. Eleanor Reeves and Mrs. Edna Thacker of Boone. A recording also was used of a duet sung by the deceased uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Orvie Braland of Shenandoah, also a few recordings of hymns. Royalance had himself played last fall at the International Assembly of the Church at Cleveland, Tenn.

The casket bearers were ministers of the church in Iowa Brothr Floyd Chatem of Ft. Des Moines, Brother Charles Peterson of Boone, Brother Omzia Bonham of Red Oak, Brother Norman Cross of Clarinda, Brother James Reeves of Boone and Brother Floyd Bonham of Ottumwa.

Floral bouquets in loving memory came from far and near as well as a number of donations in his memory.

Burial was made in the McCallsburg cemetery.

Obituary

Royalance George Merkel, son of George and Alma Merkel of McCallsburg was born on the Julia Merkel farm north west of Story City, Ia., May 27, 1929, and passed away April 30, at the age of 22 years 11 months and three days.

At the age of nine his parents moved to McCallsburg where he spent his boyhood and graduated from the McCallsburg high school with the class of 1947. A short time later he joined the U. S. Navy and honorably discharged after eleven months of service. He also spent one season painting with his father.

When Royalance was a small baby his parents dedicated him to the Lord, at the age of 16 he was converted and soon after was added to the Church of God of Prophecy. Later he was sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost. Royalance was divinely called into the ministry and was licensed as an evangelist. In his ministry he served one year as state Sunday school secretary of Iowa, after which he entered full time evangelistic work in the southern states.

He had a great vision of the airplane program in which he took an active part as pilot and trainer in the White Angel Fleet. He also attended one term in Bible Training Camp. At the time of his death he was serving as state Church of Prophecy Marker Association, secretary and manager of the Biblical Wonder campaign in East Texas. His musical ability won him many Christian friends.

He will be greatly missed in the home as well as in the work of the Lord where he especially loved to let his God given talent glorify his Master.

Those left to mourn his passing are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Merkel, one brother, Charles and six sisters, Gladys, Pauline, Georgia and Jeannie at home, Mrs. Doris Callison of Bemidji, Minn., and Mrs. Virgie Eweing of Lawton, Okla., besides a host of relatives and friends.

Among the friends and relatives in attendance at the funeral were Bros. John Stubbs and Bradley Dueberry, who accompanied the body from Tenn., the Orvie Braland family of Shenandoah, Mrs. Doris Callison and Edith Elwell of Bemidjim, Minn., Sgt. and Mrs. James Ewing of Lawton, Okla., Mr. and Mrs. George Stanmark and family of Minneapolis, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Paul Thompson, Anoka, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Lyle R. Johnson and family, Mr. and Mrs. Helge Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Sowers, all of Story City.

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Thomas and family, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Peterson and family, Mr. and Mrs. James Reeves, Mrs. and Mrs. Kenneth Hartman and family, Mrs. Edna Thacker, Mrs. Ethel Becker, Ernie Warden, Mrs. John Patton, Darrell Patton and Wilmer Patton all of Boone, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Chatam and family of Ft. Des Moines, Floyd Bonham, Ottumwa, Norman Cross of Clarinda, Mr. and Mrs. Omzie Bonham, Elsie and Junior of Red Oak.