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01/10/2015 - David Lloyd Merkel
Memorial services for David Lloyd Merkel, age 73, of Chadron, NE will be at 11:00 AM on Sunday, January 10, 2016 in the Pioneer Memorial Church Youth Chapel in Berrien Springs, MI.
Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 AM.
Additional time to meet and share memories of Dave will be held from 5:00-8:00 PM on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the American Legion Club, 112 N. Bluff St. in Berrien Springs, MI. The family is looking forward to seeing family and friends they wouldn’t be able to see otherwise. Refreshments will be furnished.
A memorial has been established for 3ABN in Frankfort, IL; Your Story Hour in Berrien Springs, MI; or Home Health & Hospice at 825 Centennial Drive in Chadron, NE.
Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com.
Dave passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at home. He was born on August 20, 1942 to the late Louis and Clara (Lerch) Merkel in Davenport, IA. The Merkel family moved to Berrien Springs, MI in 1950 when Dave was 8, and he lived there until October 2012.
On February 23, 1964, he married Sue Conard in Berrien Springs, MI. He was a carpet installer for several years. In 1968, he started Berrien Buggy as a hobby in a one-car garage on Dean Hill Rd. Then, in 1971, it moved south of town on US 31. He started manufacturing dune buggy chassis, and the business became known all across the U.S. and in a few foreign countries, being established in Berrien Springs for 44 years.
Dave loved to work and was an entrepreneur at heart, starting other businesses, including Video Wizard, Berrien Marine and Dave’s Model Trains.
Being in excellent health otherwise, the onset of Alzheimer’s disease forced the sale of the business in May 2012. He and Sue then moved to Chadron to live near his eldest son and his family.
Dave is survived by wife Sue of 51 years; sons Floyd (Brenda) Merkel of Hot Springs, SD and Tony (Renee) Merkel of Menomonie, WI; daughters Kathy Merkel of Menomonie, WI and Vicki (Rico) Salgado of Alameda, CA; grandchildren Dusti Jean Merkel of WI, Christopher (Meghan) Merkel of NE, Jasen (Erin) Merkel of MN, Amanda (Corey) Feickert of SD, Samantha Merkel of WI, Dylan, Dominic and Meghan Olson of WI, and Zoe Salgado of CA; great-grandchildren Olivia & Owen Merkel of NE, August Merkel-Voy of WI with a baby sister due in April, and Violet Walley of WI; brothers Eugene (Ruth) Merkel of Chattanooga TN, Fred (Mary) Merkel of Portland OR, Norman Merkel of Phoenix AZ and Phillip (Jeanne) Merkel of Eau Claire, MI; sister Marilyn Wood of Niles, MI; 7 nieces and 4 nephews.
Dave was preceded in death by parents Louis and Clara; sister Debbie Leak; and nephews Mike Wood and Scott Merkel.
Dave wanted to live his life “bold for the Lord, like Daniel did.”
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements for David Lloyd Merkel.
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