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Beets, Merle Thomas
Merle Thomas Beets, 88, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Davenport, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in the Meth-Wick Community. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer of St Paul's Methodist Church. Burial: National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Ill., with military honors.
Survivors include his daughter, Susan L. Bogan; son-in-law, Alan Bogan; grandson, Samuel Bogan and his wife, Deborah; and a great-granddaughter, Rachel Bogan.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Marian Boston Beets and E. Mildred Brower Beets.
Merle was born in Concord, Ill., He was married to Marian F. Beets for 44 years. They had one daughter, Susan L. Bogan of Springfield, Va. He was married to E. Mildred Beets for 23 years. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, and was discharged as a Motor Machinist Mate Third Class. He served on the USS LST 1048, and earned the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Merle worked at JI Case in Rock Island, Ill., for 14 years. He sold machine tools for DECO Tool Supply in Davenport and Cedar Rapids, for 30 years.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids.
He was a good man and his family will miss him.
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