Freeman Grant Merrill

IN MEMORY OF
FREEMAN “BUD” G. MERRILL

BORN
August 27, 1919 ~ Sioux County
Hull, Iowa
PASSED AWAY
April 17, 2006 ~ Sheldon, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 A.M Friday, April 21, 2006
United Methodist Church
Sheldon, Iowa
Rev. Marvin Lindley ~ officiating
Inspirational words by: Meredith Lawson
Recited by: Morgan Lawson

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
No. 306 “The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done”
MUSIC
“The Gift of Love” and “It Is Well With My Soul”
Organ Solo: Barb Burns
“I Thirst” Soloist: Art Bosch
Accompanied by: Donna Koerselman
“The Song Rolls On”
Duet: Brad Dighton and Tony Haning
Organist: Barb Burns

CASKET BEARERS
Richard Williams Neal Merrill
Randy Merrill Tim Merrill
Howard Tiemens Earl Ulrich Grant Merrill

FINAL RESTING PLACE
East Lawn Cemetery ~ Sheldon, Iowa
Military Graveside Service by the Sheldon
Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion
Taps played by: Izaak Plunkett

After the graveside service, relatives and friends
are invited to join the family in the
fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon, Iowa
FREEMAN “BUD” G. MERRILL

Freeman “Bud” Grant Merrill, the son of Freeman R. and Vera A. (Shaffer) Merrill was born August 27, 1919 in Sioux County near Hull, Iowa. Shortly after his birth his parents moved to Sheldon, Iowa, where he received his education. He graduated from Sheldon High School and from the University Of Alabama School Of Law. Freeman enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a Lieutenant (JG) in the European Theatre during World War II. After his discharge from the service, Bud returned to Sheldon and started his Law Practice. On August 24, 1947, he was united in marriage to Virginia Mae Williams in Ft. Dodge, Iowa, and the couple made their home in Sheldon. Bud continued to practice law in Sheldon and for 3 years he also served as the County Attorney for O’Brien County. Freeman retired from his practice in 1998. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia on March 5, 2006. Freeman passed away on Monday, April 17, 2006 at the Northwest Iowa Medical Center – Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa reaching the age of 86 years, 7 months and 20 days.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Sheldon, a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the O’Brien County Bar Association, the Sheldon Veteran’s of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He enjoyed playing cards, golfing, fishing, boating, overseeing his farm property, and the close association with his tenants; he especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Freeman leaves to cherish his memory his two daughters and their husbands, Rebecca and Larry Lawson of Apple Valley, Minnesota; Jan and Dave Plunkett of Spirit Lake, Iowa; three grandchildren, Meredith and Morgan Lawson and Izaak Plunkett; a brother and his wife, Dale and Dorothy Merrill of Sheldon, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Doris Williams and a brother-in-law, Ronald Williams both of Ft. Dodge, Iowa; also several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, a sister, Chevier Merrill; two brothers-in-law, Richard and Eugene “Bud” Williams; a sister-in-law and her husband, Vernice and Don Marshall.








“And there arose a great storm
of wind, and the waves
beat into the ship, so that it
was now full. And He was in
the hinder part of the ship,
asleep on a pillow:
and they awake Him, and say
unto Him, ‘Master, carest
thou not that we perish?’
And He arose, and rebuked
The wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the
Wind ceased, and there was
a great calm.”