Bruce Merritt

Bruce Eric Merritt, age 44, of Carroll, Iowa, died unexpectedly at his home on Monday, October 12, 2009. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church in Carroll with Rev. Dr. Michael Fitzsimmons officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. on Saturday until the time of service at the church. Organist for the service will be Mrs. Ellen Severin. Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Bruce’s nephews and nieces. Memorial contributions, which may be left at the church, may be made to the Spina Bifida Association of Iowa. Born on February 14, 1965 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll, Iowa, Bruce was the son of Robert William and Marylou (Johnson) Merritt. Bruce was a lifelong resident of Carroll except for the years he spent at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Carroll and he attended Carroll Public Schools. A member of the Carroll High School Alumni Association, the Iowa Council of the United Blind, the Spina Bifida Association of Iowa, and the Carroll Visually Impaired (V.I.P.), Bruce was a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities. Bruce was employed by Carroll Enterprises where he did several different jobs over the years. In his spare time he enjoyed connecting with various groups of people on his computer. Until recently he was the proud owner and ‘dad’ to his cat, Bill E., named for his friend Bill Evans. Bruce’s longtime home was converted to a group home several years ago, and he enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune with his housemates. Surviving are his father Robert Merritt of Carroll; a sister Marsha Vollkommer and husband Robert of Galena, Illinois; a brother Jon Merritt and wife Elaine of Manson, Iowa; a brother-in-law Timothy Bohling and wife Kris of Carroll; and the following nieces and nephews: Mia Vollkommer and Peter Wilson, New Orleans, LA; Dr.Mara and Patrick Kelley and Ewan, Memphis, TN; Capt. Max and Meghan Vollkommer, Addison and Charlie, Alamogordo, NM; Gretchen, Abby, and Maria Bohling; and, Greg, Jacob and Jillian Merritt. Bruce was preceded in death by his mother and a sister Nancy Merritt Bohling.