TURNIPSEED, Merle E. (1925-2007)

TURNIPSEED, NOECHER, SNAKENBURG, ECKHARDT, COONS, JACKSON, FREEDMUND

Posted By: Norma Jennings (email)
Date: 1/18/2007 at 17:00:59

Merle E. TURNIPSEED, age 81, of Washington died Monday January 15, 2007 at the Washington County Hospital following a brief illness.

Celebration of Life services will be held 11:00 am Thursday January 18, 2007 at the United Methodist Church in Washington with Pastor Julie Poulsen & Rev. Shawn Coons officiating. Interment will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm Wednesday at the Jones – Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 Wednesday evening. Memorial contributions may be made to the Washington United Methodist Church, the United Presbyterian Home, or to one’s favorite charity.

Merle was born April 5, 1925 on a farm north of Washington to Lloyd and Verne (NOECHER) TURNIPSEED. He graduated from Washington High School and then went through the Cadet Program of the Air Force Navigation School. He was a navigator on a B-17 and in service for two and a half years.

Merle married Bette SNAKENBERG on September 1, 1946 in Washington. They celebrated their sixtieth anniversary in September. After farming for five years he was in business with Chuck Hotle in Hotle Feed and Grain from 1951 until 1967. He then worked at Washington Mfg. Co. until retiring in 1989 where he was a V/P and Director of Materials.

In the past years he was a Jaycee, Mason, Kaaba Shrine, and a long time member of the Washington Golf and Country Club. Merle was a long time member of the United Methodist Church where he had served on several boards and committees. Merle was active in music for many years playing saxophone, was a forty year member of the Washington Municipal Band, 30 year member of the Kaaba Shrine Band, a member of the Max See Dance Band before the war and from 1946 until 1958, a member of the Jimmy Dennis Dance Band.

In his later years he became interested in genealogy. He was one of the founders and charter member as well as past president of the Washington County Genealogy Society. He had written and printed five books on his family lines. His family always came first in his life and he was always so proud of their accomplishments.

Merle is survived by his wife, Bette of Washington; son, Jon and wife Mary Jo TURNIPSEEDd of Apple Valley, California; daughters, Kaye ECKHARDT of North Liberty; Connie Turnipseed of Kansas City, Missouri; four grandsons, Eric and Jay TURNIPSEED of California, Shawn COONS of Texas; and Andrew ECKHARDT of Iowa City; one granddaughter, Averi JACKSON of Boise, Idaho; seven great grandchildren, Alexander, Mitchell, Lauren and Anna JACKSON; Gunnar and Grace Turnipseed; and Benjamin COONS. He is also survived by two sisters, Martha and husband Robert LOWE of Washington; Gladys FREDMUND of Pennsylvania; a sister-in-law, Norma TURNIPSEED of Washington and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Dorathy Wead; and a brother, Lloyd Turnipseed.

I am not related and have no further information. Posted from the Washington Evening Journal.