Obituary of Merle Merritt Hansen

Merle M. Hansen, 83, of Sand Springs, Iowa, died Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at the Good Neighbor Home, Manchester, Iowa. Friends may call from 11 a.m. - noon Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Kramer Funeral Home in Monticello where memorial service will commence at noon. Rev. Mary Green will officiate. Inurnment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Monticello. Merle was born July 28, 1928, in McGregor, Iowa, the son of Elmer A. and Loma C. (Hill) Hansen. Merle served in the United States Army during the Korean War. When he returned from Korea, he married Pearl C. Brokaw in Galena, IL. Together, they resided in Sand Springs, Iowa, where they raised six adorable children. He enjoyed his family, friends and spending time fishing at the cabin in Delhi. Survivors include his children: Alvin (Laura) Haas, Tom (Jean) Haas both of Dyersville, Don (Sandy) Haas of Ankeny, Rose (Rich) Frasher of Houston, TX, Carmine (Fran) Draude of Davenport, and Candace Hansen of Monticello; 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; siblings: Mary (John) Shaw of Prairie DuChien, WI, and Helen Stade of Marquette, IA; brothers-and-sisters-in-law: Tom (Jill) Brokaw, Jr. of Monticello, Neena (Paul) Peterson of Tennessee, Monita Monsod of Cedar Rapids, IA, Gerty (Larry) O'Leary of St. Louis, MO, Pat Dauber of Tipton, Sue (Jerry) Huss of Lakeview, Sandy Luensmann of Monticello, Carl Markmann of Hale; Numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, 2 brothers and their spouses: Alfred and Shirley Hansen and Earl "Pistol" and Hazel Hansen; brothers-and-sisters-in-law: Almore Stade, Millie Markmann, Betty and Clifford Snyder, Nancy Frost and Neal Dauber, Ty Luensmann. Merle was greatly loved by his family and friends and will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Advancement Services of Jones County, 202 Plastic Lane, Monticello, IA 52310.