J. Merritt Wortman

Joseph Merritt Wortman, one of five children of Rosella Lavina (Livengood) and Reed Merritt Wortman, was born on November 15, 1937 on his parents' farm near Hastings, Iowa. He grew up in the Hastings-Strahan area, and graduated from Strahan High School in 1954, at age 16. As a youth, he worked on a haying crew with the other boys in the neighborhood. Following school, Merritt worked construction for a short time before returning to the family farm.

Merritt and Patricia Ann Straight were married on December 24, 1964 at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Emerson, Iowa. They made their home on the farm and their marriage was blessed with a son, Joseph Michael.

The farm was Merritt's life and he took great pride in being the 5th generation to farm the ground and to receive the Century Award in 1976.

Merritt was a member of Ak-Sar-Ben for many years and enjoyed watching horse races and visiting the casinos. He always had to be busy doing something. He loved to take drives in his pickup and work search-a-word puzzles. Merritt and Pat bowled with the Plum Hollow Mixed Bowling League for 40 years.

Merritt and Pat were married 46 years, when Merritt passed away suddenly on February 24, 2011, at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa. He attained the age of 73 years, 3 months, and 9 days.

Merritt was preceded in death by his parents; sister Joan Larson; and brother-in-law Richard Straight.

Merritt is survived by his wife Pat Wortman and son Joe Wortman, both of Hastings; sisters, Louise Hines and husband Carl of Grant City, MO, and Beverly Gammon and husband Marland of Glenwood, IA; brother Roger Wortman and wife Carol of Shannon City, IA; brother-in-law Ted Larson of Council Bluffs, IA; sisters-in-law, Jean Ballain and husband Marlyn of Palmer, Alaska, and Mickey Taylor and husband Dan of Broken Arrow, OK; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.