OBITUARY: Vern M. Merfeld, 1909-2003, Mitchell Co., Iowa
Copyright 2003, IaGenWeb

[Mitchell County Press-News online - Posted June 11, 2003]


                              Vern M. Merfeld

A funeral mass was held for Vern M. Merfeld, 93, of Greene at St. Mary's
Catholic Church, Greene, IA. The Reverend Monsignor Walter Brunken
officiated. Burial was in St. Patrick's Cemetery at Dougherty. Merfeld
died Tuesday, June 3, 2003 at Liebe Care Center, Greene.

Vern was born December 12, 1909 the youngest  of nine children of Matt
and Mary (Brunner) Merfeld. He attended rural school at Greene and St. Mary's
Academy, Greene. Vern farmed with his father for several years in the Greene
area.

He married Kathryn (Katie) Ewen on February 15, 1939 at St. Patrick's
Catholic Church, Dougherty.

Following retirement Vern's parents made their home with Vern and Katie
on their farm near Dougherty. While living in the Dougherty area Vern
served as a trustee on the church board and was a member of the Holy
Name Society. In 1971, retiring from farming Vern and Katie moved to
Greene.

He enjoyed playing cards, fishing and watching boxing on television.
Vern and Katie will be remembered by their family as very loving and
generous parents and grandparents. They were strong proponents of education.

As a young man Vern helped with the construction of St. Mary's Catholic
Church, Greene, where he was a member for many years.

He was preceded in death by his wife Kathryn on December 13, 1987; a son
Joseph Merfeld on May 9, 1954; seven brothers Roy, Ed, George, Clyde, Henry,
Father Howard, and Harry; a sister Laura Popes; a son-in-law Tony Budak
and grandson-in-law John Peterson.

Vern's survivors include seven children Elizabeth (Betty) Staudt and husband
Donald , Mason City, Barbara Budak, LaGrange, IL, Alice Oswald and her
husband Richard, Annandale, NJ, Ann Cracco, Cedar Falls, James Merfeld
and his wife Marilyn, Clear Lake,Tom Merfeld and his wife LeAnn, Osage;
Veronica Fink and husband James, Waverly; 20 grandchildren; 28 great-
grandchildren; a former son-in-law Sal Cracco of Cedar Falls; sisters-in-
law Edna Merfeld, New Virginia; Hannah Jansen, Nora Springs; Helen Engels
and husband Emil, Rockford; Agnes Foxen, Rockford; Doris Ewen, Clear Lake
and Lillian Ewen, Nora Springs.

Memorials may be given to St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greene.

Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City was in charge of arrangements.