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Merle D. Schoenwetter

1920 - 2006

Merle D. Schoenwetter, 85, of Garner, died on Friday, April 21, 2006, at the Good Samaritan Center, Forest City. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 25, at 10:30 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Garner with the Rev. David Wagner officiating. Music was provided by organist, Mary Kopacek who accompanied soloist, Bernie Urich and congregational hymns. Ushers were Marvin and Maynard Schoneman. Casket bearers were Roger Hansen, Tim Schoenwetter, Floyd Cutshall, Randy Albers, Kyle Christie and Harley Nuehring. Burial was in the Concord Township Cemetery, Garner. The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Merle D. Schoenwetter, the son of Edward and Nora (Swanson) Schoenwetter, was born on August 10, 1920, on a farm in Twin Lakes Township in Hancock County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Liberty Methodist Church near Klemme. He attended country school near his home and the Klemme High School. Following his schooling, he farmed with his father. On February 14, 1945, he married Eunice Schroer at the Peace Reformed Church south of Garner. They lived on the home farm in Twin Lakes Township until June of 1983, when they moved into Garner. On March 3, 2004, Merle entered the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City. He enjoyed his family, grandchildren, farming, collecting John Deere toy tractors and woodworking. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Garner and was a past member of the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme, where he had served as a deacon and elder. He also served on the Hancock County Co-op Oil Board, Klemme Elevator Board and was a 4-H leader.

Merle is survived by his wife, Eunice of Garner; four children, Dennis (Donna) Schoenwetter of Forest City, Audrey Bradford of Cedar Rapids, JoAnn (Kerby) Rauk of Forest City and Scott (Karen) Schoenwetter of Scenic, Arizona; 7 grandchildren, Dawn Heusinkveld, Kristi (Brad) Wynja, Miaka Schoenwetter, Kim Ridway, Alex Bradford, Nichole Baker and Bradley Rauk; ten great-grandchildren, Brooke Heusinkveld, Hayden, Grace and Bella Wynja, Akira Wright, Brady and Cade Baker, Daelynn and Rhayna Putney and Trey Rauk; two sisters, Irma Hansen of Kanawha and Wava (Elwood) Geary of Corwith; a sister-in-law, Marie Schoenwetter of Rochester, Minnesota; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Walter Bradford; a sister, Velda Cutshall; and brothers, Lyle and Wayne Schoenwetter.


source: Garner Leader & Signal, 26 Apr 2006

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