Obituaries

Merle Danner, age 74, of Carroll, died Saturday morning, January 22, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Robert Gralapp. Lector for the funeral mass will be Ken Shibita. Gift Bearers will be Merle’s children: Charles Danner, Jeff Danner, Peg Loew, Lisa Danner, Susan Reynoldson, and Nancy Kasperbauer. Eucharistic Ministers will be Lou Ann and Clair Otto, Larry Schleisman, and Maria Shibita. Music for the funeral mass will be by Marcy Anderson and Sherry Loughran. Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Bill Bohling, Ed Danzer, Leonard Fischer, Pappy Jochims, Tony Meiners, Clair Otto, Maury Potthoff, Harry Reiman, Ed Reiling, Leo Steffen, Daryl Sunderman, Jerry Tigges, Sarge Schechinger, Ed Champion, Ollie Wenck, Daryl Winker, Ralph Wiederin, Dick Watson, Jerry Wilson, Jerry Klocke, Dick Rutten, Cecil Menke, and Paul Baumhover. Casket Bearers will be Merle’s grandson, Dylan Schilling, and Merle’s sons-in-law: John Loew, Mike Reynoldson, and Todd Kasperbauer, Merle’s nephew, Larry Bayliss, and Merle’s friends: Bob Raue, Wayne Reiman, and Aaron Juergens. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 p.m., Monday where there will be a rosary at 4 p.m. by the Carroll Knights of Columbus followed by a Christian Wake Service by the parish at 7 p.m. The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus will form an honor guard for the rosary and for the funeral mass. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the St. Lawrence Second Century Campaign or the Dialysis Unit at St. Anthony Regional Hospital.
Born on November 23, 1936 in Carroll, Iowa, Merle was the son of Ben and Clara (Juergens) Danner. He spent his entire lifetime in the Carroll community and attended St. Lawrence and Holy Spirit Schools before graduating from Carroll High School with the Class of 1954. Following his formal education, Merle served in the United States Air Force from 1955-1959. On September 25, 1958 he was married to Bonnie Schleisman at St. Mary’s Church in Lake City, Iowa. Merle worked at Juergens Produce & Feed for his entire life, retiring after 47 years. In retirement he enjoyed bowling, fishing, playing cards, traveling, golfing, watching sports, and most of all, spending time with his family and friends. Merle was a member of the St. Lawrence Parish, where he was active as a communion minister and also as a lector. He was a member of the Carroll Knights of Columbus, where he was a past Grand Knight, and recently became a 4th Degree Knight. Merle served on the Kuemper School Board, Carroll City Council and was a past chairman of the Board of Adjustment. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Bonnie Danner of Carroll; his children: Charles Danner of Carroll, Jeff Danner of Omaha, Nebraska, Peg Loew and her husband John of Jefferson, Lisa Danner of Camas, Washington, Susan Reynoldson and her husband Mike of Vancouver, Washington, and Nancy Kasperbauer and her husband Todd of Ankeny; 18 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Sally Danner of Carroll, Betty Danner of Carroll, Kitch Semmens of Arizona, Jean (Bill) Smith of Lake City, Kathy (Dave) Anderson of Arlington, Texas, Cindy (Dean) Filmer of Lake City, Dale (Barb) Schleisman of Emmetsburg, Jim (Mary Jo) Schleisman of Jefferson, Kenny (Sharyn) Schleisman of Lake City, Larry (Vi) Schleisman of Lake City, and Jerry (Joyce) Schleisman of Lake City, as well as many nieces, nephews and other extended relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: Alton, Donald, and Paul Danner; his sisters: Laverne Semmens, Alma Gordon, Bernice Bayliss, and Florence Middendorf.