Merle Van Sickle

MERLE VAN SICKLE

Marion

Merle Van Sickle, 102, of Marion, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Aug. 17, 2021, at Summit Pointe Senior Living Center in Marion. Private inurnment was held at Cedar Memorial Park Mausoleum.

He was born Nov. 2, 1918, on a farm near Oxford Junction, Iowa, to Adolph and Jennie Van Sickle. As a young man, he was not very fond of his first name … so, he told his friends to call him "Van" instead, and that's how he was known throughout his 102 years.

Van loved his 40-year career with the Milwaukee Railroad. In 1978, he retired as general agent and trainmaster at Cedar Rapids. He started as a "relief agent" traveling from one small town to another. It was in 1941 while working in the little town of Greeley, Iowa, that he met and fell in love with his future bride, Elizabeth, and they spent the next 71 years together.

A World War II veteran, Van served in the Navy as a radio operator onboard a Destroyer Escort in the North Atlantic Ocean. He was in Times Square in New York City on VE Day, celebrating with the great mass of people and, in 2017, was thrilled to go on the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Van Loved Dogs, especially his little buddy "Murphy." He loved spending days working in his manicured yard, perfecting the hosta beds. Van loved big band music, especially Jan Garber and Guy Lombardo. As longtime Elks Club members, he and Liz were there on the dance floor every Friday night, joined by their many good friends.

His boyish smile, infectious laugh and wonderful sense of humor will be greatly missed by family, friends, and acquaintances.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Dunn; and his eldest son, Jon; and his wife, Elizabeth.

He is survived by his youngest son, Gene and daughter-in-law, Rita Van Sickle of Phoenix, Ariz.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.