Edwin J. Merklein

Johann Michael Georg Edwin Merklein, son of Heinrich and Katharina Krafft Merklein, was born on a farm west of Stuttgart in Phillips County, Kansas, on June 24, 1902, and departed this life at his home in Stuttgart on March 7, 1982, having attained the age of 79 years, 8 months and 11 days.

Edwin was the oldest of ten children and grew to manhood on the family farm west of Stuttgart. Edwin loved the life of a farmer and of wheat harvest time. In former years he headed a threshing crew in the area.

Edwin was baptized into the Christian faith on July 15, 1902, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, Kansas. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 30, 1916, and was a life-long member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Stuttgart.

On April 30, 1930, he was united in marriage with Frieda Hoffman at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, Kansas. To this union four children, Ruth Ann, Duane, Norman and Edwin Gene were born.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by three brothers, and a son.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Frieda, of the home in Stuttgart, Kansas; his children, Ruth Ann and her husband, Virgil Miller, Phillipsburg, Kansas; Duane and his wife, Phyllis, Prairie View, Kansas; and Norman and his wife, Carla, Logan, Kansas; nine grandchildren; Lynette and her husband, Larry Evans, Susan, Beth, Matthew, Denise and Janna Merklein, and Deanna, Gina and Mark Merklein; two great-grandchildren: Angela and Chad Evans. He also leaves two brothers; John and his wife Hazel, and Alvin, Prairie View, Kansas; four sisters; Martha and husband, Alvin Vogel, Stuttgart, Freda and her husband, Ernest Eltiste, Phillipsburg, Hilda and her husband, Ellsworth Miller, Stuttgart, and Emile Merklein, Prairie View, and one sister-in-law, Ella Merklein, Prairie View. He also leaves many other cousins and many friends.

Memorial services were held at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, on Wednesday, March 10, 1982, with Pastor Duane Levin officiating. Hymns were sung by Mrs. Arliss Weinman and by the congregation with Mrs. Marene Levin as organist.

Casket bearers were Jack Groen, Robert Merklein, Eugene Vogel, Dale Eltiste,  Eldon Miller, Donald Merklein, John Hoffman and Leo Manz. Honorary casket bearers were all his neighbors and friends.

Burial was in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Stuttgart, to  await the resurrection.

He was beautiful to us with his iron grey hair

With the subtle low laugh and smoke in the air

His familiar old pipe held with shaking hands

The way he moved machinery, tackling the lands

He had a heart full of love, this man of few words

A rough voice in the fields and when moving the herds\

He filled our faces with smiles and our hearts with memories

We'll always love our grandpa, so God take care of him, please.

By Granddaughter Beth

CARD OF THANKS

A sincere and heartfelt thank you to our many relatives, friends and neighbors who shared our sorrow, by their kind expressions of sympathy, the floral offerings, memorial gifts and food brought to the homes. A special thank you to Pastor Levin for his comforting words and to the ladies of the church for preparing the lunch. It is a consolation to know that we are not alone in the loss of our loved one.

Mrs. Frieda Merklein

Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Miller

Mr. and Mrs. Duane Merklein

Mr. and Mrs. Norman Merklein

and Families

The Phillips County Review

Thursday – March 18, 1982

Frieda Merklein

Frieda Merklein, 94, Phillipsburg, died Saturday, March 1, 2008, at Phillips County Retirement Center, Phillipsburg.

She was born July 31, 1913, in Phillips County to John C. and Helen (Juerink) Hoffman.

She married Edwin Merklein on April 23, 1930, in Stuttgart. He preceded her in death on March 7, 1982. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include a son, Duane Merklein, Prairie View; a daughter, Ruth Ann Miller, Phillipsburg; a sister, Wilma Groen, Aurora, Colo.; nine grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Norman and Edwin Gene.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stuttgart; burial in Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Stuttgart.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, both at Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.

Memorials are suggested to Phillips County Retirement Center, or church in care of the chapel.

The Hays Daily News

March 3, 2008