Date : 27 Dec 2007
Location : Calvary Cemetery, Cresco, IA
A Mass of Christian Burial for Merlin A. Reicks of Cresco, IA was held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 27, 2007 at Notre Dame Parish in Cresco with Rev. Richard J. Ament officiating. The reader was Dianne Loebach, gifts were carried by Kristen Whalen, Liza Whalen, Trina Moellers and Kyrah Reicks, eucharistic ministers were Marvin and Michelle Martinek, and Karen Ferrie. Organist was Wendy Schatz and cantor was Pam Daley. Honary pallbearers were: Bill Daley, Chuck Bronner, Tom Ryan, Ben Phillips, Don Breitsprecher, and Arnie Blaser. Pallbearers were: Aaron Kulish, Jeffrey Whalen, Eric Whalen, Justin Moellers, Derek Moellers, and Travis Moellers. Military Rites were conducted by the American Legion and V.F.W. Posts in Cresco, Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco, IA.
Conway Funeral Home in Cresco, IA handled the arrangements.
Merlin, 73, died Monday, December 24, 2007, at Regional Health Services Hospital in Cresco, IA of natural causes.
Merlin Albert Reicks was born November 27, 1934 at Cresco, IA, the son Of Albert and Louise (Scholbrock) Reicks. He attended school in Cresco and following his education, he went to work for Rath Packing in Waterloo. In 1956, he entered the U.S. Army and drove with the convoy to Alaska for a tour. He lived in the Artic for a month on ski patrol. Following his return from the service, he returned to Rath then in 1957, he started farming near Granger and in 1963, he bought his present farm, where they still lived and farmed. Recently he worked for the Harmony Greenhouse.
On April 7, 1958 he married Margaret Chihak in the Our Lady or Lourdes Catholic Church at Lourdes, IA. They were blessed with four children: Bridget, Ellen, Maureen and Charles.
Merlin was a member of the American Legion and was a Board Member for United Shippers. He enjoyed traveling, especially Nashville, Tennessee. For the last number of years, Merlin and Margaret spent a few weeks a year in Texas. He liked to listen to polka music, especially when he was milking the cows. He collected John Deere tractors. Merlin especially enjoyed being with family and socializing with friends.
Survivors include his wife: Margaret; three daughters: Bridget Reicks of Calmar, IA, Ellen (John) Whalen of Harmony, MN and Maureen (Kurt) Moellers of Ridgeway, IA; one son: Charles (Joanne) of Cresco, IA; 10 grandchildren: Aaron Kulish, Kristen, Jeffrey, Eric, and Liza Whalen, Justin, Derek, Travis, and Trina Moellers, and Kyrah Reicks; one brother: Virgil (Rose) Reicks of Harmony, MN; and two sisters: Darlene (James) Vsetecka of Alta Vista, IA; and Luverne Loftus of Dodge Center, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters: Shirley Martinek and Elizabeth Ferrie.
Times Plain Dealer - Jan 2, 2008
