MERL E. NIEDERMEIER

Merl Elmer Niedermeier, age 97, of Rock City, Illinois, passed away on Sept. 18, 2021, while at the Madison, Wisconsin, VA hospital.

Merl was born at his home in Rock City on June 23, 1924, the son of Elmer and Freda Niedermeier (Tielkemeier).

Merl graduated from Dakota High School in 1941. He married Marie Ruef on Aug. 19, 1942, at the St. Paul Evangelical & Reformed Church in Davis, Illinois.  She preceded Merl in death on July 21, 2016.

Merl was a Signalman 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy. He served from April 1943 to November 1945. He participated in the D-Day Invasion of France. After 45 days on Beach Battalion, he returned to England and was assigned to a minesweeper. He swept mines in the English Channel and off the coast of France.

He loved farming alongside his wife, Marie, and his son, Ross, and his wife, Crystal, on the home farm. He took pride in his registered Holsteins and just the love of farming.  Merl was a member of St. Paul Church of Epleyanna. Merl also served his church on various boards and served two terms on the Dakota School Board. He also volunteered for many years with Marie at the Salvation Army.

Merl is survived by his three children, Alan (Sue) Niedermeier of LeHigh Acres, Florida, Peggy Warden of Nicholasville, Kentucky, and Ross (Crystal) Niedermeier of Rock City; 11 grandchildren, Scott (Heather) Siracusa, Tim (Jen) Niedermeier, Tracy (Shaun) Bastien, Kyle Bradt, Krista (Aaron) Raatjes, Jodi Whitsitt, Jami (Robert) Cucinotta, Jason (Michelle) Schlafer, Angela (Jeremy) Bradt, Kacie (Scot) Wilson and Michele (Caleb) Young; 21 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Harold (Lois) Niedermeier; a son-in-law, Clifford Bradt; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Niedermeier and Barbara Schrader; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, of 73 years; a daughter, Cheryl Bradt; two grandchildren, Lori and Jeffrey Schlafer; a brother, Marvin Niedermeier; two sons-in-law, Ron Reed and Glenn Warden; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Johanna and Vernon Schlueter; a brother-in-law, Ron Schrader; a grandson-in-law, Mark Whitsitt; and two foster children, Wesley and Lynette Goebel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the St. Paul Church of Epleyanna in his memory.

A visitation and memorial services were held Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at the St. Paul Church of Epleyanna in Davis. Military honors took place at the grave during burial.

The DL Newcomer Funeral Home in Brodhead is assisting the family.  Go online to www.dlnewcomerfuneralhome.com or call 608-897-2484 for more information.