Merle I. Olberding

Merle Ivor Olberding, age 86, of Carroll, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 01, 2011 at Thomas Rest Haven Nursing Home in Coon Rapids, Iowa. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M., on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll with Fr. Timothy Johnson as Celebrant. Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:00 P.M. on Tuesday where there will be a rosary at 3:30 P.M., and a Christian Wake Service at 7:00 P.M. by Holy Spirit Parish followed by a Moose Memorial Service. The casket will be moved to the church at 8:30 A.M. on Wednesday to lie in state until the time of service. Gift Bearers will be Beth Boyd, Wendy Vonahme, and April Sesker. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. Casket bearers will be Kyle Olberding, Matt Boyd, Mike Boyd, Doug Olberding, Andy Olberding, and John Olberding. Honorary casket bearers will be Christopher Olberding, Jason Hacker, Tracy Olberding, Kim Stieve, Allison Olberding, and Ashley Olberding. Born on November 21, 1924 at Arcadia, Iowa, he was the son of John and Christine (Underberg) Olberding. He grew up in Lidderdale, Auburn, and Lake City. He moved to Carroll in 1937. He was married to Ruth G. Sapp on September 18, 1948 at Early, Iowa. He worked as a farm hand until the mid 50’s when he went to work for Harold Bierl Construction, Trausch Inc., and then started Merle Olberding Electrical Plumbing and Heating. He retired in 1987. Merle was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He was an active member of the Carroll Moose Lodge joining in 1985, serving as Junior Governor in 1987, and Governor in 1988 and 1989. He became a Legion Member of the Moose in 1987 and was bestowed the Fellowship Honors in 1998; the second highest rank of an individual. In his spare time he enjoyed playing cards, playing hand held video games, watching westerns, visiting with friends at the Moose, and spending time with his family. Surviving are three sons: Thomas Olberding and his wife Lola of Jacksonville, Florida, Steven Olberding and his wife Karen of Carroll, and Mark Olberding and his wife Cheryl of Olathe, Kansas; two daughters: Cynthia Boyd and her husband Jerry of Scranton, and Jane Olberding and Jeff Miller of Kanawha, Iowa; fourteen grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; and the following sisters-in-law: Louise Olberding of Auburn, Janet Parent of Orland Park, Illinois, Mary Steinmer and her husband Glen of Omaha, Judy Testroet and her husband Paul of Carroll, and Linda Schaefer and her husband Jerry of Ft. Dodge; and a brother-in-law Robert Sapp and his wife Dorothy of Carroll. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ruth, two sons: Kenneth and Gerard Olberding; two sisters: Cyrillia Miles and Alma Schulte, and five brothers: Melvin, Orville, LaVern, Eugene, and Wayne Olberding; and two brothers-in-law: Raymond Sapp and Richard Sapp.