Arlene Merkle
Arlene Merkle
Arlene Merkle of Boise died Sunday evening at 6:59PM. She was 91 years old, soon to be 92. Arlene was born on Oct 22, 1922 in Meridian,
Idaho which was then considered to be the center of known civilization. It was a wonderful childhood full of family love,
skinned knees, trees to climb, books to read and other small farm adventures
too numerous to mention or remember. Her
parents, Euell and Veta Hawkins, resided on the family farm throughout their lives
and Arlene continued to care for them with a sense of love and purpose that was
unmatched in today’s culture.
Arlene attended Meridian schools and missed one year of high
school due to rheumatic fever but did graduate the following year. As a young woman she worked at Gowen Field
during WW II. A long cherished highlight
was meeting Jimmy Stewart as he flew through Gowen Field as a bomber pilot in
the army air corp. It was during this
time that she met and began dating John Merkle who was recently discharged from
the army and had moved to Boise. They were
married on June 21, 1945 and remained so for 63 wonderful years until John’s
death on Apr 28
th
, 2008 at which time he was 87. John had a son, Gary from a previous marriage
and together John and Arlene had two more sons, Alan and Dan. Arlene was employed as a bookkeeper
throughout the boys’ childhood. She was
a den mother when the boys were Cub Scouts and John was an assistant scout
master when they became Boy Scouts. She
proudly noted that all three of her sons became eagle scouts and ventured into
the world with John and Arlene’s blessings, counsel and watchful eye. John and Arlene developed many close and
lasting friendships during these years.
After all of her sons had grown and moved on in life, she and John
continued to expand their horizons with their RV trailers, several cruises, and
numerous and continuous visits to an endless stream of grandchildren. Arlene was forever devoted to her family and
her church. She was a “greeter” for many
years at the University Christian Church in Boise as well as a leader in the
church’s prayer chain. Arlene took her
obligations very seriously and could always be counted on to fulfill her
assigned tasks to the utmost. She
instilled punctuality, dependability, honesty and a strong sense of industry in
each of her sons to which each of her sons’ life mates will testify.
The later years brought on many of a breakdown in her earthly
shell but she marched on with determination, grace and an unbounded sense of
joy and gratefulness. She was always and
we as her family will always be, forever grateful to the incredible care and
graciousness given to her by her two physicians Dr. Louis Roser and his
assistant Rachel and Dr. Christopher Lawler and his assistant Tracy. They were counted among her many
“treasures”. Arlene’s life was a
treasure chest filled with her many treasured acquaintances collected over the
years. “You are such a treasure” was a
phrase frequently and sincerely bestowed.
Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, Euell and Veta
Hawkins, her older brother Ralph and her beloved husband John. She is survived by her three sons Gary
(Bette) of Boise, Alan (Linda) of Mercer Island and Dan (Sheri) of Las Vegas; eight
grandchildren Amy Kline (Joe), Ben Merkle (Bekah), Amanda Gilmore (Dan),
Lindsay Merkle, Alex Merkle (Melinda), Dylan Merkle (Krystal), Lauren Wentz
(Austen), Travis Wentz; ten great grandchildren Jacob Kline, Elaine Kline,
Kenneth Kline, Knox Merkle, Jemima Merkle, Belphoebe Merkle, Hero Merkle, Judah
Merkle, Leo Gilmore and Lucy Gilmore.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM Saturday, September
27, 2014 at Alden Waggoner 5400 Fairview in Boise with a graveside service at
Morris Hill cemetery followed by a reception at Chandler’s restaurant in
downtown Boise.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Arlene Merkle, please visit our flower store.
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