Merrill E. AITCHISON

AITCHISON, SCHENCK, CUSSINS, JACOBS, BEAMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/8/2010 at 12:50:10

The Gazette --Cedar Rapids, Iowa
November 13, 2002

January 30, 1928 --- November 11, 2002

Merrill E. Aitchison, 74, of 1625 47th St. NE, died Monday, Nov. 11, 2002, in St. Luke's Hospital after a short illness. Services: 3 p.m. Thursday, Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Entombment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home from 5 to 8 tonight.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel; a daughter, Sue Schenck and husband Mike of Woodbury, Minn.; two sons, Randall and wife Sue of Iowa City and David and wife Brenda of Cedar Rapids; two brothers, Gary of Ames and Duane of Albert Lea, Minn.; and a sister, Sharon Cussins of Healdsburg, Calif. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Daniel, Ryan, Stephanie, Michael, Kylie; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Merrill was born Jan. 30, 1928, in Corwith, the son of Clarence and Alta Jacobs Aitchison. He married Hazel I. Beaman on Sept. 24, 1949, in Stilson. Merrill was in sales for the Nissen Corp., Motorola and most recently for The Gazette, where he was direct sales coordinator. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church; Cedar Rapids Harmony Hawks, where he sang since 1958 and served as chapter president twice; member of S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. (Barbershop Harmony Society), where he held numerous district offices which included district president, International board member and most recently district convention chairman, bringing several barbershop conventions to Cedar Rapids. Merrill served in the Army and enjoyed playing bridge, golf and gardening. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Harmony Foundation in Merrill's memory. The Aitchison family would like to extend a special thanks to the ICU staff at St. Luke's Hospital.