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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Betty Merritt
BETTY ANN MERRITT
Cedar Rapids
Betty Ann Merritt, 88, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at her home. Funeral service: 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Pastor Lucille King will officiate at the service. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Betty was born Aug. 27, 1928, the daughter of Benjamin and Nina (Vesey) Balcar in Cedar Rapids. Betty and Duane Novak were united in marriage in 1950. The couple farmed near Brandon, Iowa, and had four children. They later divorced. On Sept. 12, 1974, she married Lewis A. Merritt. Before Lewis passed away in 2008, the couple enjoyed traveling and camping. Betty worked as a nurse's tech for St. Luke's Hospital and also stayed at home to care for her children and enjoyed life on the farm.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend who will be greatly missed by all.
Survivors include her four children, Deb (George) Smith of Cedar Rapids, Cheryl (Rick) Wensel of Urbana, Carolyn (Doug) Wright of Toddville and Wayne (Susan) Novak of Cedar Rapids; 17 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband and sister, Eloise Wehmeyer.
Memorials may be directed to the family in Betty's memory.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.
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