Stee, Jr., Merle Elwin --- 1934-2003

CHAMBERS, STEE, EWING, SCHULTZ, BEALL, WULLNER, LEE, SCHIERHOLZ

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 4/1/2013 at 19:52:45

Merle Stee, Jr.

Funeral services for Merle Stee, Jr. were held Monday, July 28, 2003 at 11 a.m in the Zion Lutheran Church at Castalia, Iowa. The Reverend Dave L. Lenth officiated. Marlys Hager was the organist. Casket bearers were Mario Loera, Jeremy Hilgerson, Travis Feickert, Nathan Stee, Daniel Stee and Matthew Stee. Burial was in the Pleasant View Cemetery at Castalia with Military Honors by the AMVETS of Monona. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements.

Merle Elwin Stee, Jr., was born January 16, 1934, to Merle and Sarah (Chambers) Stee, on a farm in Bloomfield Township, Winneshiek County, near Ossian, Iowa. He passed away Friday, July 25, 2003, at his home in Castalia, Iowa. He had reached the age of 69 years, 6 months and 9 days.

Merle was baptized April 8, 1934 at the Zion Lutheran Church and confirmed there on November 7, 1947. He attended the Castalia School and graduated from Postville High School in 1952. Merle served in the United States Army during the Korean War.

Merle was married to Bonnie Lee Ewing on September 25, 1956 in the Presbyterian Church at Rossville, Iowa. To this union 4 children were born. Right after high school he began working for the Carnation Plant in Castalia. When it closed he went to work for the MVMPA Plant in Luana, now the Swiss Valley Farms, and continued working there until his retirement.

He was active in the community, serving on the Castalia Town Council, a Boy Scout Leader, a Volunteer Fireman, and a member of the AMVETS in Monona. He was a life time member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia and had served as the church Treasurer for several years.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, his children, Jim (Diane) Stee of Ossian, Jeff (MaryKay) Stee, and Cindy (Stan) Schultz of Postville, and Connie (Rob) Beall of Waukon; 7 grandchildren: Amy (Mario) Loera, Heidi (Jeremy) Hilgerson, Natasha Stee, Nathan Stee, Daniel Stee, Matthew Stee, and Carli Stee; 4 great grandchildren: Jenna Hilgerson, Gabe Loera, Karissa Loera, and Ty Stee; 2 sisters, Zonna (Bill) Wullner, Postville, Mary Lee, Terre Haute, IN, father and mother-in-law, Jim and Mike Ewing, Postville; brothers-in-law, Gary (Betty) Ewing, McFarland, WI, and Lyle (Teresa) Ewing, Ossian, IN, and a sister-in-law, Linda (David) Schierholz, Postville.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Merle (Sr.) and Sarah Stee, a sister-in-law, Charlotte Ewing, and a nephew, David Lee.

Merle enjoyed being with his family, especially the grandchildren. He loved gardening, feeding the birds, mowing lawn, and working in both his church and community.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.