September
29,
1927
29,
1927
August
24,
2015
24,
2015
Ethel Catherine Merkel, age 87, formerly of Leland, passed away on August 24, 2015 at the Sandwich Rehabilitation Center.
Ethel was born September 29, 1927 in Tonica, the daughter of E. Frank and Helen A. (Bruch) Cook. She married Raymond Albert Merkel on March 7, 1948 in Somonauk. Ethel and Ray were married for over 60 years.
She graduated from Somonauk High School in 1945. After graduation she worked at All-Steel Company and lived in Aurora for two years. After she was married, she lived on farms in the Leland area for the next 63 years. She enjoyed living on the farm, raising five children as well as helping in the fields.
She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Yorkville. She made quilts for the homeless and her grandchildren, and enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren in their sporting endeavors. She enjoyed gardening and when younger always canned and froze produce.
She is survived by three sons, Robert (Patty) Merkel of Madison, WI, Roger (Doy) Merkel of Stillwater, OK, and Ronald (Wendy) Merkel of Somonauk; two daughters, Linda (Thomas) Maley of Huntley and Carol (Gary) Lane of Earlville; 10 grandchildren, Christina (Michael) Metzdorf, Kyle Lane, Ashley (John) Lowe, and Elise, Indah, Rayna, Lela, Courtney, Caitlyn, and Rylie Merkel; one great-grandchild Aubrey Lowe; one brother, Charles (Alyce) Cook of Morrison, and one sister, Irene Yingling of Sandwich; and two sisters-in-law, Alice Merkel of Sandwich and Gloria Cook of Somonauk.
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Merkel, in 2008 and by her parents and two brothers, Elmer Cook and Raymond Cook.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 29 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Yorkville with Pastor Michael Neel officiating. Burial will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Yorkville. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk. Visitation also will be held at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the start of the service.
Memorials may be designated for the American Heart Association or to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Yorkville.
Ethel was born September 29, 1927 in Tonica, the daughter of E. Frank and Helen A. (Bruch) Cook. She married Raymond Albert Merkel on March 7, 1948 in Somonauk. Ethel and Ray were married for over 60 years.
She graduated from Somonauk High School in 1945. After graduation she worked at All-Steel Company and lived in Aurora for two years. After she was married, she lived on farms in the Leland area for the next 63 years. She enjoyed living on the farm, raising five children as well as helping in the fields.
She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Yorkville. She made quilts for the homeless and her grandchildren, and enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren in their sporting endeavors. She enjoyed gardening and when younger always canned and froze produce.
She is survived by three sons, Robert (Patty) Merkel of Madison, WI, Roger (Doy) Merkel of Stillwater, OK, and Ronald (Wendy) Merkel of Somonauk; two daughters, Linda (Thomas) Maley of Huntley and Carol (Gary) Lane of Earlville; 10 grandchildren, Christina (Michael) Metzdorf, Kyle Lane, Ashley (John) Lowe, and Elise, Indah, Rayna, Lela, Courtney, Caitlyn, and Rylie Merkel; one great-grandchild Aubrey Lowe; one brother, Charles (Alyce) Cook of Morrison, and one sister, Irene Yingling of Sandwich; and two sisters-in-law, Alice Merkel of Sandwich and Gloria Cook of Somonauk.
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Merkel, in 2008 and by her parents and two brothers, Elmer Cook and Raymond Cook.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 29 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Yorkville with Pastor Michael Neel officiating. Burial will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Yorkville. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk. Visitation also will be held at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the start of the service.
Memorials may be designated for the American Heart Association or to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Yorkville.
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