Aubrecht, Merrill 'Shorty'

Merrill “Shorty” Aubrecht, 79, died Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at the Iowa City VA Health Care System following a long illness. Funeral services, with military honors, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at Lensing's Oak Hill in Coralville, with the Rev. Alecia Williams officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Coralville. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Shorty was born Dec. 28, 1932, in Iowa City, the son of George and Bess (Thomas) Aubrecht. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. On Jan. 15, 1955, he married Betty Grecian in Lone Tree.

Shorty had been the manager of Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park. He pulled mobile homes and had been employed at River Products.

He liked to camp, fish and hunt. Most important to Shorty was his family.

Survivors include his wife, Betty; their five children, Karen Aubrecht of Golden, Colo., Doug (Tina) Aubrecht of Coralville, Ron (Dana) Aubrecht of Nichols, Kevin Aubrecht of Conifer, Colo., and Sherrie Aubrecht of North Liberty; three grandchildren, Kimberly, Chris and Cody; three great-grandchildren, Chase, Quentin and Cameron; and three sisters, Kate Hebl and Marlene Boerjan, both of Iowa City, and Beverly Al Rashid of Omaha.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and seven siblings, Harold and Maynard, Lucille Kutcher, Letha Musser, Lillian Allen, Donna Zeithamel and Marjorie Anciaux.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be sent to

Published Jan. 14, 2012, in The Gazette