Patton, Merle Willard

Merle Willard Patton went to his Heavenly Father Tuesday morning, August 9, 2011. Funeral Service: 1:30 p.m. Friday, August 12, at Peace Lutheran Church in Ryan, by the Rev. Tim Miller. Family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Central City, and one hour before services Friday at the church. Burial: Coggon Cemetery, Coggon, Iowa, with military honors by Coggon American Legion Post No. 362.

Merle was born Dec. r 1, 1923, in Coggon, to Charles and Aurilla (Hill) Patton. He attended Coggon School and graduated in 1941. Merle enlisted and served in World War II, the 5th Army, in the European Theatre. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Bravery. He was wounded and spent one year in military hospital.

On April 11, 1945, he was united in marriage to Dorothy (Fisher) in Manchester, Iowa. Merle was service manager at a Wallaces, the Buick garage in Manchester for many years then started a transmission shop on his farm until he retired. He also farmed.

Merle was a member of Peace Lutheran Church of Ryan. Merle was also a member of Coggon Legion and D.A.V. for over 60 years.

Merle is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dorothy of Coggon; his children, Roger (Donna) Patton of Coggon, and Randy Patton; six grandsons and one granddaughter, Todd (Jenn), Wade, Ryan, Dasha, Kirk (Jamie), Matthew (Flor), and Joshua Patton; and nine great-grandchildren, Eli, Hannah, Avery, Hunter, Lauren, Alyssa, Ben, Andrew and Sawyer Lee.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Leland, Jim and twin brother, Verle; and his beloved son, Rick, who passed away in 1994.

Merle was a loving husband and loved his boys, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Merle enjoyed watching his boys play sports. There wasn't a car he didn't know the make, model and year and how to fix it in his younger days.

He will be missed greatly by all who knew him.

Please sign the online guest book for Merle at under obituaries.