Harkness, Merle Odean

Merle Odean Harkness 85, of Central City, died Sunday, August 1, 2010, at his home. Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion. The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home in Marion. Burial: Mount Clark Cemetery, Central City, Iowa. Military rites provided by Central City Wapsie Post No. 421.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel; children, Craig (Susan) Harkness of Central City, Jody (Karen) Harkness of Appleton, Wis., Brian Harkness of Central City, and Ruth Anne (Charles) Rahe of Boulder, Colo.; sisters, Rose Marie (Jim) Grosser and Nancy (Melvin) Macal.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Gary; and his brother, Bob.

Merle was born Feb. 25, 1925, the son of Claude and Josie (McCallson) Harkness, in Mable, Minn. He enlisted in the Air Force on Feb. 6, 1946, served his country for seven years and married Ethel Sylling on March 20, 1948, in Spring Grove, Minn. Merle moved to the Cedar Rapids area in 1956, where he worked for Standard Appliance as a TV tech, Collins Radio, and later Sears. He enjoyed woodworking in his shop. Merle enjoyed his family and he especially enjoyed Josie, who made him smile even when he was not feeling well.

Memorials may be directed to St. Luke's Hospice, 290 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, in Merle's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Merle at under obituaries.