Merle C. Rhines

Davenport, Iowa – Merle C. Rhines, 99, died Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Crest Health Center, Ridgecrest, in Davenport. Iowa. His wishes were that he be cremated.

A celebration of life service will be held 3:00PM Saturday, January 8, 2011 at the Palmer Hills Retirement Center 2617 Maple Crest Rd, Bettendorf, Iowa. On line condolences may be made at www.runegmortuary.com .

Merle was born June 4, 1911 in Strawberry Point, Iowa, the son of Charles and Laura (Phelps) Rhines. His parents, a twin brother and four other siblings preceded him in death. March 6, 1937 Merle married Esther White in Waterloo, Iowa and they had two daughters. Ester died December 4, 1975 and Merle married Eva Pace in Davenport on December 18, 1976. Eva died in 2003.

Summarizing a life of 99 years is a challenge. Yet, Merle’s life had a continuing pattern – love of his country (he served in the Army Air Corps in WWII), a hard worker, a handyman helping others, an exercising enthusiast, a card and Bingo player, a longtime member of Newcomb Presbyterian Church, and a man who delighted in buying and driving the newest Ford!

In the Quad Cities his work included being a parts manager for Ford and working at the Arsenal’s Rodman Laboratories testing large caliber weapons. He retired in 1975 and moved to Florida where he square danced and led social activities at the mobile home park. He returned to Iowa in 2002 and lived at Palmer Hills in Bettendorf where he enjoyed making many friends and participating in all of Palmer’s activities. His good humor and teasing ways will be greatly missed!

Memorials may be given to Newcomb Presbyterian Church. The family wishes to thank those who lovingly cared for Merle at Genesis Hospital, Crest health, and Genesis Hospice.

Merle is survived by two daughters, Beverly Koos and Ruth Hefferman, Davenport; Son-in-law Dick Koos; step-daughter, Karen (Pace) Turner, Madison, WI; grandchildren Carrie and (Don) Brazil, Acworth, GA, Deborah and (Kevin) Camp, Dallas, TX, Tim Koos, Louisville, KY; Rebecca Koos and (Rick Sullivan), Kennesaw, GA, Keith and (Amy) Hefferman, Findlay, OH, Todd and (Sarah) Hefferman, Carbondale, IL; and 10 great-grandchildren.