Gertrude S. Merkel

Gertrude S. Merkel, 89 of Mason City died Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at the Manly Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Manly. Funeral services for Gertrude will be held 10:30 A.M. Friday, April 25, 2003 at St. James Lutheran Church in Mason City with Rev. Scott Duffus officiating. Interment will be in Grafton Cemetery, Grafton, Iowa. Memorials for Gertrude may be given to St. James Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City. Gertrude was born April 13, 1914 the daughter of Otto H. Braun and Alivia E. Walk in rural Grafton, Iowa. On February 11, 1934 she was united in marriage to Arthur W. Merkel in Grafton, Iowa. Gertrude and Arthur resided in Grafton until 1945 when they came to Mason City. Gertrude was an active member of St. James Lutheran Church. She was known for her sewing and quilting talent and enjoyed making prom dresses for family and friends. She loved all her family and enjoyed spending time with them. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Arthur W. Merkel of Manly; daughters: Shirley Reiman and husband Don of Clarion, Iowa, Larisa Walk and husband Robert Dahse of Winona, MN; son, Russell J. Merkel and wife Denyce of Rogers, AK; three granddaughters, Paige Blair and husband Mark of Des Moines, Dawn Barragy and husband Dan of Clear Lake and Andrea Sheldon and husband Thad of Coralville; two great grandchildren, Niko and Larissa Barragy; sisters: Dorothy Rodemaker of Manly, Evely Nelson of Lime Springs, Iowa; brothers, Everett Braun of Grafton. Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents, one infant son, two sisters, two brothers and another son, Eugene Merkel.

Visitation:
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home on April 24, 2003 (map/driving directions) 3:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home on April 23, 2003 (map/driving directions)

Service:
3:00 PM at St. James Lutheran Church on April 25, 2003 (map/driving directions)