CARBONDALE, Kan. – Merle Marsh, 91, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, at Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born on May 5, 1926, in Brewster, Minn., the son of Clayton and Esther Kistner Marsh.
Merle had lived in the Overbrook and Carbondale, Kan., communities since 1967. He graduated from Sioux City Leeds (Iowa) High School in 1944. He was asked to come to St. Louis, Mo., to try out for the Cardinals, but he had already enlisted. Merle then served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a tail gunner in a B-17 bomber. He worked as a terminal manager for Williams Pipeline for 42 years until his retirement in 1988. Merle was inducted into the Iowa Fast Pitch Hall of Fame, and was an avid sports participant and fan his entire life. He was a member of the Overbrook United Methodist Church.
On June 18, 1949, Merle was married to Grace Farley, in Sioux City, Iowa.
Merle was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Genna Forbes; a great-granddaughter, Sophia Rhoads; brother, Forrest Marsh; and two sisters, Luella Nyreen and Maxine Haller.
Merle is survived by his wife, Grace, of the home; two sons, Kerry (Deana) Marsh, Topeka, and Bruce Marsh, Carbondale; daughter, Tammy (Don) Forbes, Carbondale; and four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at Feltner Funeral Chapel, Lyndon, Kan. The family will receive friends one hour before services. Inurnment will be in the Carbondale Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lyndon High School Honor Flight, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451. Online condolences may be left at feltnerfuneralhome.com.
