Merrill J. Houser

Merrill Jacob Houser, one of five children of Jacob Henry Houser and Sarah Viola (Frain) Houser, was born at his parents' farm home near Macedonia, Iowa on October 15, 1917. Merrill grew up in the Macedonia area where he attended No. 8 country school. In 1929, the stock market crashed and his family experienced the Great Depression. Merrill graduated from the Macedonia Consolidated School in 1935. Following school, he continued to help his dad on the farm, and also took an electronics course by mail to further his education.

On June 8, 1941, Merrill and Marilynn Eileen Henry were married in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Merrill was drafted into the US Army and served in Europe during WWII. Following the service, Merrill opened an electrical repair shop in Macedonia and he and Marilynn eventually settled on his parents' farm. They were blessed with five sons, Hubert Merrill, Darrell Henry, Kent Jacob, Melvyn James, and Lewis Lynn.

Merrill enjoyed spending time with family and loved to fly the Cessna Sky Hawk he and his friends owned. In 2010, Merrill moved to the Oakland Manor in Oakland, Iowa.

Merrill and Marilynn had been married 69 years when Merrill died at the Manor on December 21, 2010, at the age of 93 years, 2 months, and 6 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lawrence W. Houser, Lyle V. Houser and wife Marie; sister Lura Armstrong and husband Guy; and brother-in-law Leo Carroll.

Merrill is survived by his wife Marilynn Houser of Carson; sons, Senator Hubert Houser and wife Paula, Darrell Houser and wife Marsha, and Melvyn Houser and wife LaRue, all of Carson, Kent Houser and wife Marlene of Wichita, KS; and Lewis Houser and wife Joan of Henderson, IA; sister Glada Carroll of Des Moines, IA; 16 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

A memorial fund has been established.