Pierce, Merlyn C. -- 1916 - 1999

WADE, PIERCE, JOHNSON, HALSON

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/11/2010 at 17:37:19

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, March 30, 1999.

Merlyn C. Pierce

Merlyn C. Pierce, 82, of Decorah, died Thursday, March 25, 1999 at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 29, at 11 a.m., at the Decorah Lutheran Church, with the Revs. James Glesne, Tim Tostengard and Ole Winter officiating.

Diane Kvamme was the organist. The congregation sang "Eternal Father Strong to Save," "I Was There" and "Amazing Grace."

Casket bearers were Darrell Pierce, Stephen Pierce, Scott Pierce, Bartt Pierce, Doug Pierce and Carl Pierce.

Merlyn was born July 10, 1916, at Burr Oak, the son of Carol and Ethel (Wade) Pierce. In 1923, the family moved to Decorah. Merlyn attended the Decorah Schools through his junior year, then going back to Burr Oak and graduating in 1934.

He enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) Camp for two years. In 1937, he started working for the Decorah Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

He married Evelyn Johnson in November of 1937. They were married for 61 years.

In 1941, Merlyn was drafted into the United States Navy, serving over two
years. He returned to Coca-Cola in 1946 and became plant manager in
1948. In 1960, he was transferred to Dubuque as plant manager, and in 1966 was promoted to vice president, general manager of the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Hannibal, Mo. It included plants in Decorah, Dubuque, Kankakee, Illinois and Hannibal, Mo.

Merlyn retired in 1980 and moved back to Decorah, where he enjoyed gardening, fishing and golfing with his sons, grandchildren and many friends.
Merlyn was a 60-year member of the Elks Lodge, serving as Exalted Ruler in 1953-54; a 54-year member of the American Legion, past president of the Dubuque Kiwanis Club; past president of the Dubuque County Cancer Drive; past president of the Iowa Soft Drink Association; past director of the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce; and past director of the Five Flags Civic Center. He was a past member of the Dubuque Golf and County Club, Thunder Hills Golf and Country Club and Oneota Golf and Country Club, and a gold card member of SCORE.

Survivors include his wife Evelyn of Decorah; two sons, Darrell and Sondra Pierce of DeWitt, and Stephen and Carol Pierce of Waterloo; a brother
Marshall and Irene Pierce of Decorah; five grandchildren, Scott and Lori Pierce of Decorah, Cara and Todd Smith of Thompson, Illinois, Bartt and Jennifer Pierce of Minneapolis, Minn.; Doug and Michelle Pierce of Marion and Carl Pierce of Waterloo and two great-grandchildren, Breanne and Bryce Pierce of Decorah.

Merlyn Pierce was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marge Halson of Marion.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Burr Oak Cemetery Fund or the Decorah Lutheran Church.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.