A longtime resident of Jordan, Merle Nile Smith, entered eternal peace three days after his 94th birthday on December, 29, 2015, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, MN.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, at 11 am, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 313 East Second Street, Jordan, with a visitation two hours prior. Father Timothy Yanta will preside. Merle’s pall bearers will be Dan Smith, Andy Smith, Chris Schoeder, Mark Busch, Scott Smith and Zach Boll. He will be laid to rest at St. John Calvary Cemetery.
Merle Smith was born in Coon Rapids, Iowa on December 26, 1921. He moved to Minnesota when he was three years old growing up on a small rented farm which is now part of the St. Lawrence State Park near Jordan. They didn’t have electricity until he turned 11. They used horse and buggy/sleigh for transportation until he learned to drive a tractor while working on the farm with his five siblings.
He met his wife Virginia (Ginger) Schneider in Jordan and they married on February 27, 1945. They were married for 64 years, until Ginger passed on March 19, 2009.
Merle entered the marines in WWII and served at Camp Pendleton military base in California. He left Jordan in June, 1945 and Ginger joined him there. Merle was about to be deployed to Japan when the war ended. Merle and Ginger then moved back to Jordan, where he resumed farming and raised seven children.
Merle ended school in 8th grade to help on the farm, but learning meant a lot to him. He made sure all his children knew the importance of hard work and a higher education. Along with farming, Merle always held a fulltime job working in a foundry in Chaska. Even though he worked hard, he always found time for his family. Merle was very dedicated to his family. He was a role model for his children, grandchildren, and many others.
For most of his life Merle enjoyed the outdoors, most notably hunting and fishing. The phone lines were often tied up during the week with his brothers to discuss where the fish were biting. His love of fishing was passed on to his children and many of his grandchildren. We have many memories of camping and fishing in Minnesota and Canada.
He was also an avid sports fan, following baseball and other sports. More than anything, he enjoyed his grandchildren’s basketball and baseball games. His other interests included wood working, playing cards, fishing, hunting, gardening, playing softball, and traveling around in their motor home. In his very active retirement he played many sports including, horse shoes and bocce ball. He excelled in tournament lawn bowling, where he brought home many trophies. He regularly played cards and once had a perfect cribbage score. Merle loved to dance, he and Ginger spent many years dancing. Merle continued dancing until only a few months ago.
In spite of all these activities he was always available to support and help those he loved.
Merle will forever missed and loved by his children, Wayne (Lois) Smith, Sharon Smith, Linda (Joe) Boll, David Smith, Sandi (Steve) Busch, Nancy (John Scheffler) Smith, Laurie Wondra; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; 1 great great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Preceded in death and there to welcome Merle home is his wife, Ginger; parents; siblings, Kenny, Garlan, Versa, Doris and Dean.
