Marvin G. Merck

MARVIN G. MERCK

Anamosa

Marvin G. Merck, 94, died Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at his home. The family will greet friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 11, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 12, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Marion. Burial will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Marvin is survived by two daughters, Carol Leonhardt of Marion and Linda (Leonard) Thompson of Anamosa; one son, Michael (Linda) Merck of Marion; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene (2000); his parents; an infant son, Nile (1948); grandson, Jacob (1998); daughter, Marilyn (2008); brother, Larry; and sisters, Mireta Niebuhr and Verna Belle Schmidt.

Marvin was born May 7, 1923, near Guernsey, Iowa, the son of Ernest and Esther Merck. He attended St. John's Lutheran Parochial School in rural Victor for eight years, and graduated from Guernsey High School in 1941.

Marvin married Arlene Devine on Oct. 22, 1946, in Galena, Ill. They farmed in several different communities, with a deep fondness of northeast Iowa. They moved to Cedar Rapids in 1965. He was employed at FMC until retiring in 1985. They moved to rural Anamosa in 1990. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Marion.

Marvin was a gentle man with a deep love of his family and nature. Marvin enjoyed sports, having been an all-star ballplayer in his younger days who was scouted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. He was a peaceful man, and he left us peacefully. Go Cardinals.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Camp Courageous or St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Please share a memory of Marvin at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.