From The Florence Gause Collection
1964
He was born Aug. 21, 1891 in Mercer County and
his parents were the late Chris and Henrietta Kable Merkle.
He was married April 27, 1919 to Bertha Parker
and she survives with six children, Mrs. Olga Nave of Rockford; Mrs.
Martha Pudzy, Dayton; Lewis Jr. of Montezuma, Mrs. Marie Lessner,
Dayton; Mrs. Margaret Baker of Celina and David of Ohio City.
There are 17 grandchildren, one
great-grandchild, a brother, Herbert of Van Wert and
a sister, Mrs. Floyd Agler of near Willshire.
He was a lifelong resident of the Rockford
community, a member and past commander of Post 508 American Legion,
past county Legion commander and a veteran of World War I.
Ketcham and Ripley, Rockford were in charge of
the arrangements.
Services were held Monday at 1:30 in the
funeral home with Rev. Larry May officiating. Burial was in Riverside
Cemetery.