Richard E. Merfeld

GREENE — Funeral Mass for Richard E. Merfeld, 86, of Greene, will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 20, 2016, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Greene with Rev. Msgr. Walter Brunkan officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Greene. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, May 19, at Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St. in Greene and will continue at the church one hour before services. A Rosary Service will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Richard Merfeld was born Oct. 23, 1929, in Marble Rock, the son of Leander and Gila (Garber) Merfeld, and died on Sunday, May 15, 2016, at the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City.

He attended grade school at St. Mary’s School at Roseville and graduated from Marble Rock High School in 1947. Richard entered the United States Army on Aug. 31, 1951, serving during the Korean Conflict until honorably discharged on June 17, 1953. Following his discharge he started farming with his father and brothers.

Richard was united in marriage to Rita Stabenow on Dec. 29, 1956, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greene. They were blessed with three children. The couple made their home on the family farm until they retired and built a home in Greene in December 1993. Though retired, Richard spent every spring and fall helping his son Mike “get the crops in and out.” He loved the farm!

Richard was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Greene, where he was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus. His faith, family and friends were very important to him. He loved to laugh and frequently shared a joke or two with others. He adored his grandchildren and loved hearing about their lives.

Richard was a past board member of the Farmers Elevator Board at Rockwell-Dougherty, served on the board of the Rockford Golf Course and was a member of the Tack Barnett Post 268 American Legion of Greene.

Richard is survived by his loving wife Rita of 59 years; his children: Mike Merfeld of Greene, Theresa (Brook) Vickery of Rosemount, Minn.; Dave (Lynne) Merfeld of Walla Walla, Wash.; seven grandchildren: Zach (Alysha) Merfeld, Jordan (Andrew Hilton) Merfeld, Rachel Vickery, Mark Vickery, Trent Merfeld, Jenna Vickery, and Tyler Merfeld; two great granddaughters: Cadence Merfeld and Taylor Rita Merfeld; a great-grandson, Brady Richard Merfeld; brothers: Roger (Edi) Merfeld of Rockford; Ray (Eva) Merfeld of East Dubuque, Ill.; sister: Mary Jeanne (Fran) Stadler of Queen Creek, Ariz.; sisters-in-law: Myrna Merfeld of Weslaco, Texas; Evelyn Stabenow of Allison; Carla Phalen of Cedar Falls; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Kenneth Merfeld; sister, Rose Leaver; and niece, Julia Merfeld.

Memorials may be directed to the Richard Merfeld Memorial Fund at P.O. Box 492, Greene, IA 50636.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St., Greene, 641-823-4457, www.retzfh.com.

Merfeld