Merle Thrasher
November 30, 1922 — June 13, 2007
Merle Thrasher, Jr. was born on November 30, 1922, in Fort Madison, Iowa, to Merle and Maud (Shawver) Thrasher. He attended school in Fort Madison and graduated from high school with the Class of 1940. He entered the United States military in 1943 and left for basic training to Denver, Colorado.
While on a three-day pass in Denver on May 5th 1943, he was united in marriage to Valeria "Val" Bentler. Five children were born to this union: Tom, Ron, Randy, Greg, and Jan.
After he was honorably discharged from the service during World War II, he joined the Schafer pen company in Fort Madison, Iowa. The family moved several times within the Fort Madison and Houghton, Iowa, areas.
He ventured into the feed and grain business and had also worked at the United States post office for a while. He sold fur coats and steel grain bins. In 1966, he sold his feed business and moved to Earling, Iowa, and bought a Purina dealership. He retired twenty-seven years later in 1993.
Merle loved boating on the Mississippi river and fishing in Canada. He enjoyed mushroom hunting. He went on many fishing trips to Canada with his boys and friends over the course of 60 years. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh, but was also a very respectful man. He joined the Catholic faith as a gift to his wife for their twentieth wedding anniversary.
Merle was admitted to the Nebraska Medical Center on May 31, 2007, and it was there that he died on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, having attained the age of eighty-four years, six months, and fourteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Val Thrasher of Earling, Iowa; his sons: Tom Thrasher and his wife Janet of Omaha, Nebraska, Ron Thrasher of Omaha, Randy Thrasher of Dana Point, California, and Greg Thrasher and his wife Nancy of Omaha; his daughter Jan and her husband Mike Haye of Wall Lake, Iowa; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; his brother Robert Thrasher and his wife Joan of Burlington, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other family members, and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, June 16, 2007, at St. Joseph�s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Rev. Bob Hoefler officiated the 11:00 AM service. Casket bearers were Gene Sibenaller, David Thrasher, Dan Thrasher, Brady Haye, Kevin Thrasher, and Vince Heese. Military Rites were held by the Earling American Legion Post No. 615 at St. Joseph�s Cemetery in Earling.
PDF Printable Version
While on a three-day pass in Denver on May 5th 1943, he was united in marriage to Valeria "Val" Bentler. Five children were born to this union: Tom, Ron, Randy, Greg, and Jan.
After he was honorably discharged from the service during World War II, he joined the Schafer pen company in Fort Madison, Iowa. The family moved several times within the Fort Madison and Houghton, Iowa, areas.
He ventured into the feed and grain business and had also worked at the United States post office for a while. He sold fur coats and steel grain bins. In 1966, he sold his feed business and moved to Earling, Iowa, and bought a Purina dealership. He retired twenty-seven years later in 1993.
Merle loved boating on the Mississippi river and fishing in Canada. He enjoyed mushroom hunting. He went on many fishing trips to Canada with his boys and friends over the course of 60 years. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh, but was also a very respectful man. He joined the Catholic faith as a gift to his wife for their twentieth wedding anniversary.
Merle was admitted to the Nebraska Medical Center on May 31, 2007, and it was there that he died on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, having attained the age of eighty-four years, six months, and fourteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Val Thrasher of Earling, Iowa; his sons: Tom Thrasher and his wife Janet of Omaha, Nebraska, Ron Thrasher of Omaha, Randy Thrasher of Dana Point, California, and Greg Thrasher and his wife Nancy of Omaha; his daughter Jan and her husband Mike Haye of Wall Lake, Iowa; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; his brother Robert Thrasher and his wife Joan of Burlington, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other family members, and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, June 16, 2007, at St. Joseph�s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Rev. Bob Hoefler officiated the 11:00 AM service. Casket bearers were Gene Sibenaller, David Thrasher, Dan Thrasher, Brady Haye, Kevin Thrasher, and Vince Heese. Military Rites were held by the Earling American Legion Post No. 615 at St. Joseph�s Cemetery in Earling.
PDF Printable Version
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merle Thrasher, please visit our flower store.