Aldrich, Merle

Merle Aldrich, 86, died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at the Iowa City VA Health Care System following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, May 21, at First Presbyterian Church, Monticello. The Rev. Al Polito will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday at Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello.

Surviving are three children, Kris Read, Monticello, and Kevin (Sharon) Aldrich and Kit (Mary Jo) Aldrich, both of Everett, Wash.; a daughter-in-law, Cathy Aldrich of Grand Junction, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Tipton, Jennifer Aldrich, Margret (Gary Kunkel) Aldrich, James “J.D.” Read, Drew Read, Bryant Aldrich, Tanner Aldrich and Kaitlyn Aldrich, six great-grandchildren; a brother, Edward Aldrich, Lucerne Valley, Calif.; and a sister, Dorothy Howell, Mill Creek, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Greta in 2010; a son, Gene; a son-in-law, Daniel Read; two brothers and a sister.

Merle Leonard Aldrich was born Feb. 28, 1926, on a farm south of Anamosa, the son of Frederick R. and Ethel A. Kuhnzweiler. Merle received his education in the Monticello Community Schools. He was drafted into the United States Army during World War II between his junior and senior years. Merle served in the Americal Combat Unit in the South Pacific. Following his return from military duty he returned to high school and graduated with the class of 1947 Merle Aldrich and Greta Kuhns were married Oct. 3, 1947, at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church. The couple lived in Monticello until 1960 when they moved to Wyoming. Merle opened Merle's Garage in Wyoming. He later worked at Midland Schools as a mechanic and then in a partnership with Don Buchholtz rebuilding and repairing semi tractors.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

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

Published May 19, 2012 in The Gazette