Robert Merkel
July 20, 1941 — November 1, 2013
Robert Dean Merkel was born July 20, 1941 in Boone, Iowa to Florence (Maynard) and Ralph Merkel. He passed away Friday, November 1, 2013 at the age of 72, in Live Oak, Texas surrounded by his family while in the care of hospice. Bob attended school in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated in 1959 from Des Moines Tech High. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1959 and proudly served for six years. Agreeing to a blind date for New Years Eve, he met Jane Potter. They married July 12, 1964 in Des Moines, Iowa. They recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Bob had a long career in the heating and air conditioning industry beginning in 1968 with Lennox Industries in Marshalltown, Iowa as a Laboratory Technician while attending college. In 1972, he relocated his young family to Norman, OK where he took a position with Westinghouse (which became Borg-Warner then York) in the Engineering Department. While there, he held various positions including Service Engineer and Quality Assurance Engineer/ Supervisor which included quality control, marketing, writing product and technical guides for field personnel and consumers and working with Underwriters Lab. In 1991, Bob joined Friedrich Air Conditioning Company in San Antonio as a Specification Engineer. He retired in 1998. Bob was a master woodworker and enjoyed passing his knowledge and skill to his children and grandsons. He coached his children in softball and baseball and was a Cub Scout den master. Bob retired due to many physical and medical disabilities which he faced with great strength, determination, trust and faith in the Lord. During his retirement he enjoyed working on genealogy research and many computer projects. Bob was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. The highlights of his life were his family and his many dogs throughout the years. He is preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Delores Byers and Patricia Nelson. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Jane, of the home, daughter Kathryn Merkel- Cox and her husband Greg of Norman, OK, and son John Merkel and his wife Mindy of Kerrville, TX. He is also survived by grandchildren Cody, Caleb and Ty Merkel, Braedyn, Brendnn and Brittin Tate, and Angela and Kimberly Cox. Bob is also survived by sister, Karen Nutt of Des Moines, Iowa, mother- in- law Lorraine Potter of Des Moines, Iowa and many sisters and brothers- in- law, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at the Schertz Funeral Home, 2217 F.M. 3009, Tuesday, November 5 from 5p.m.-8p.m. Services will be held Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 11:00 am at Schertz Funeral Home in Schertz, TX with interment following at1:00 p.m.at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX. Memorial donations on Robert's behalf may be made to Train A Dog- Save A Warrior, 13423 Blanco Road, suite 218 San Antonio, Texas 78216 or www.tadsaw.org.
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