Michael R. Merkel

Michael R. Merkel, age 72, of Scottsbluff, died Sunday, October 23, 2005, at his home. A funeral mass will be 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, October 26, 2005, at Christ The King Catholic Church, Gering with Father Gerald Harr officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park, Scottsbluff. Visitation is from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel with a rosary at 7:00 P.M. Michael was born July 10, 1933, at Crofton, Nebraska to Joseph and Caroline (Kuehn) Merkel. He grew up and graduated from high school at Crofton. On January 7, 1953, he married Mary Lee Greckel at Crofton and they have one daughter. They lived at Crofton where he owned and operated Merkel Service Station. He also worked on the Gavins Point Dam and as a policeman for the city of Crofton. They later moved to North Platte where he was a Nebraska State Trooper and was transferred to Scottsbluff in 1961. In 1963, he purchased Scotty’s Drive-In and owned and operated it for over 30 years. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and enjoyed sports. He was a member of Christ The King Catholic Church, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Eagle’s Club, Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited. Survivors who will miss him very much include his wife, Mary Lee Merkel, daughter, Kathy (Steve) Sauer of Gering; granddaughter, Kammie (John) Wilson of Gering; great-grandson, Eric Wilson; brother, Roger (Bette) Merkel of Hartington; sister, Gerri Merkel of Baltimore, Maryland; numerous nieces and nephews; mother-in-law, Henrietta Greckel of Scottsbluff; brother-in-law, Ronald (Rose) Greckel of Gering; and beloved dog, Cody. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bob Merkel; sister, Donna Schenbeck; and father-in-law, Edward Greckel