Lewis W. Merkle Jr., 85, 55 W. Main St., Montezuma, died at 7 p.m. June 7, 2009, at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima.

He was born April 17, 1924, in Mercer County to Lewis Sr. and Bertha Parker Merkle. On April 1, 1951, he married Jennie Long, who survives.

Others survivors are a son, Mark (Jennie) Merkle, Circleville; three daughters, Sondra Kaup, Celina, Beverly Cabell, Jacksonville, Fla., and Karen (Mark) R. Hoenie, Rockford; a brother, David (Barbara) Merkle, Ohio City; three sisters, Olga Nave, Rockford, Martha Pudsey, Dayton, and Margaret Baker, Van Wert, and eight grandchildren.

Deceased are a sister, Marie Lessner; a son-in-law, David Cabell; three brothers-in-law, Ralph Nave, Ralph Pudsey and Lloyd Baker.

He worked at New Idea, Coldwater and retired from Crown Corporation. He was a member of the Montezuma Church of Christ and a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Services are 10:30 a.m. June 12, 2009, at the church, the Rev. Kevin Neumann officiating. Burial is at Ellis Cemetery at a later date.

Calling is 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Lehman-Hogenkamp-Dzendzel Funeral Home, Celina.

Contributions can be made to the church or the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Condolences can be left at LHDfuneralhome.com.