John Merkes
July 1, 2015Share using:
John Merkes, 78, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at Manor Care after battling melanoma cancer.
Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 6, 2015, at Holy Spirit Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Kyle Digman officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery with full military honors accorded by American Legion Post #6. Friends may call from 2:00-7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 5, at Leonard Funeral Home, 2595 Rockdale Road, where there will be a wake service at 6:30 p.m.
John was born on January 1, 1937, in Luxemburg, Iowa, the son of Peter and Margaret (Ries) Merkes. He was the youngest of ten children.
He graduated from Leo High School in Holy Cross, Iowa. After graduation he served in the Army; he was a Korean War Veteran. He also graduated from DeVry Technical Institute and was employed at John Deere in Dubuque after serving in the military.
John was united in marriage on June 28, 1960, to Lucille (Roling) Merkes at St. Joseph’s Church in Bellevue. He enjoyed traveling throughout the United States with his wife, family, and friends. John and Lou visited 49 of the 50 states. They have many fond memories of the times they spend on bus trips with the John Deere retirees. They also loved to go dancing every weekend, listening to their favorite bands, and playing cards. John and Lou were always together.
John also enjoyed gardening, woodworking, and making people laugh. He loved to socialize and will be remembered for his quick wit and one-of-a-kind expressions. John enjoyed life and he will be missed.
John is survived by three of his children, Sheila (Jerry) Helbing, of Dubuque, Carl (Anne) Merkes, of Chesapeake, VA, and Sara (Tim) Hilby of Dubuque; ten grandchildren, Hollie Helbing, Cody Merkes, Brittany Helbing, Nathan Helbing, Samantha Hilby, Sierra Merkes, Keith Hilby, Clayton Hilby, Garrett Helbing, and Jesse Hilby; his sisters Mary Jane (Joel) Glennon, Theresa Foxen; brothers Peter Merkes, Arnie (Jackie) Merkes; and sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws Theresa Merkes, Isabelle Stillmunkes, Marcy Roling, Rosemary Roling, Leona Roling, and Alvin Kilburg.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lucille Merkes (2015); son, Allen Merkes (2014); brothers, sisters, and spouses Arthur (Dorothy) Merkes, Ambrose (Sylvia) Merkes, Katherine (Joe) Foxen, Yvonne Merkes, Leonard Foxen, Clara (Melvin) Weis, Aloysius Merkes; and several members of Lucille’s family.
