Merrill BLOCK

BLOCK, RAMM, HARKEMA, GILLESPIE, GEHL, LOWTHER, BUMP, STEINER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/13/2011 at 22:28:44

January 14, 1921 -- December 10, 2010

Merrill Block, age 89, of Grand Haven, and formerly of Grand Rapids, passed away Friday, December 10, 2010 at a local care facility. He was born to Claus and Anna (Ramm) Block on January 14, 1921, in Renwick, IA . Merrill served in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of WWII. He married Ruth Harkema in 1944 in Grand Rapids. She passed away October 16, 2003. Merrill was self-employed, selling equipment to auto manufacturers. He retired in 1980. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids and a past commander of the Walter A. Durkee American Legion Post #311 of Grand Rapids. He enjoyed building, having built two homes on his own. Merrill loved to hunt and he traveled to Africa several times.

He is survived by his daughters, Suellen (Donald) Lowther of Grand Haven and Phyllis (Richard) Gehl of Grand Rapids; son, Donald (Cindy) Block of Exton, Penn.; nine grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; sisters, Myrtle Bump and Eva Steiner; and brothers, Kenneth Block and Carroll Block. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Arnold Block and Clem Block; and sisters, Connie Gillespie and Florence Block.

The service for Merrill will be at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, December 27, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids with Pastor Paul Krupinski officiating. Interment will be at the church. Family will greet friends and relatives following the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer's Association . Klaassen Family Funeral Home, 1500 Robbins Rd., Grand Haven, Michigan

Grand Rapids Press, Michigan
December 16, 2010