Merle A. Stevens

Merle A. Stevens, age 94, a long-time Carroll business man, passed away at St. Anthony Regional Hospital on Saturday, July 26, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll with Fr. Timothy Johnson of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home for one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with Military Honors Conducted by the Carroll American Legion. In lieu of flowers the family suggests for memorials to be made to St. Anthony Hospice in Merle’s name and may be left at the funeral home. Mr. Stevens was born on November 12, 1919 in New Market, Iowa to Claude and Lula Stevens. After graduating from high school, he served in the United States Army and was stationed in Africa during World War II. During the time Mr. Stevens was serving his country, he met Jeanette Maxedon who would later become his wife. Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. military, he began a long career in the grocery business. Mr. Stevens managed grocery stores in Corning, New Sharon, Eldora, Clarinda, Perry, and Carroll. In 1970 Merle left the grocery business to become involved in a successful career in the insurance business. Mr. Stevens was active in the Carroll Community and played a role on various committees within the city. During retirement, Mr. Stevens and his wife Jeanette, enjoyed being “snow birds” in Mission, Texas for 14 winters. The remainder of each year was spent in his beloved Carroll, Iowa. He had a strong attachment to Carroll and was quick to remind people that he was “the best lookin’ guy in Carroll County”. Most recently Mr. Stevens and wife Jeanette have resided at the Carroll Health Center where Mrs. Stevens remains. Merle A. Stevens and his wife were married on August 26, 1944 in Clinton, Iowa. During their nearly 70 years of marriage, they were blessed with two children: Bruce and Dee. Mr. Stevens is survived by the following: Wife Jeanette of Carroll, son Bruce and wife Donna (Tryon) of West Des Moines, and daughter Dee Ludwig (Jim), of Carroll. Six grandchildren: Julie (Stevens) Kaufman with her husband Brad of Waukee, Chad Stevens with wife Emily (Chambers) of Norwalk, Sara (Stevens) Lohrmann with husband John of Wakonda, Illinois, Kurt Ludwig with wife Kalen (Eastwood) of West Des Moines, Nicole (Ludwig) Smith with husband Ben of Gilbert, & Kevin Ludwig of Ames. Mr. Stevens was the proud great grandfather of 10 plus 1 scheduled to arrive this winter. Merle Stevens was preceded in death by his parents Claude & Lula Stevens, brothers Vernon and Glenn, & infant grandson, Scott Allen Stevens.