Merle Keith Eller

Merle K. Eller, 89, of Terre Haute, passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at McKinley Court in Decatur, IL. He was born on May 28, 1924, in Terre Haute to William and Lottie (Morey) Eller. He married Helen Sweet on December 15, 1947 and together they raised four children.Merle served in the United States Army in WWII and the Korean War. He retired from Stran Steel after over 30 years of service. He was a member of the former Maranatha Christian and Missionary Alliance. Merle enjoyed anything outdoors, whether he was helping his sister on her farm, mowing grass at his church, hunting mushrooms and gathering blackberries, or cutting wood. He enjoyed woodworking. He was an avid gardener who loved to share the vegetables he grew with his neighbors. He was well known for the pies that he loved to bake.

Merle is survived by his children: Jean Litchfield and her husband Frank of Decatur, IL; William Eller and his wife Karen, John Eller and his wife Carla, and Marla Stark and her husband James, all of Terre Haute; grandchildren: Diana (Demas) Stone of Decatur, David (Lucy) Stone of Clarkston, MI, Julie Bennick of South Korea, Christopher Stark of Terre Haute, Kevin (Heather) Stark of Clovis, NM, Kristi (Daryl) Graves of Florida, Gary (Sandy) Eller of New Goshen, Gregg Eller of New Goshen, Angela (Paul) Scott of Terre Haute, Sarah (Aaron) Gadberry of Terre Haute, Stephanie Driggers of Terre Haute, and Matthew Eller of Pensacola, FL; great-grandchildren: Nicole, Sean, Joseph, David Jr., Kevin ,Erica, James, Elizabeth, Daniel, Alexis, Katelyn, Dustin, Aaron, Stephanie, Noah, Desirae, Meghan, Cody, Brandi, Lexi, Ian, Hannah, and Dane; Great-great-grandchildren, Ryan, Bryce, Braden, Connor, Carsyn, Cameron, Tatiana, Jazlene, Juny, Kiley, Chaunte’, Kirshaun, Blake, Aubree, Bailey, and M.J.; and brother-in-laws: Dale Strain and John Sweet, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen in 1999, and sisters Leta Donham and Jeanette Strain, two special brother-in-laws Jack Spencer and “Dutch” Donham.

Visitation will be held from 11 until 1 on Monday, June 17 at Roselawn Funeral Home. Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home with Pastor Richard Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Park with military rites performed by VFW Post 972. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Terre Haute Humane Society. Online condolences may be made at www.roselawnfuneralhome.net