Joe D. Merritt

Joe D Merritt, age 97, of 3427 SW 8th St, Cape Coral, FL passed away on 8-14-16 peacefully at home after a lengthy illness. He was born Feb 26, 1919 in Michigan to Charles Verner Merritt and Nina Bolton Merritt and lived in Michigan until he moved to warmer climes in Cape Coral, FL in 1989.

Joe, who liked to be known as JD, enlisted in the US Army Air Corp in August of 1941. His 17th Squad 27th Bomb Group was sent to the Philippines, which is where he was on Dec 7th, Pearl Harbor Day. He saw a lot action on Bataan, was wounded and was in Hospital #2 in Bataan when it capitulated on April 8, 1942. He was confined to the Port Area in Manila prior to being shipped to Japan on the Noto Maru and spending his time at Hanawa 06B Slave labor camp. After liberation, he traveled home on the Klipfontein, arriving in Seattle in Oct 1945.

Joe returned to Michigan to take up his previous work in his insurance agency.

Joe was pre-deceased by his first wife, Margaret Allen Merritt and they had 5 children. He is survived by his daughter Jodi Merritt, son Dirk Merritt and wife Lisa and three children, and son Lance Merritt and wife Joyce and their three children. He was pre-deceased by daughter Nancy Merritt Bell, and daughter Krista Merritt. He is survived by wife Linda Mary.

The family will be having a celebration on Lake Superior at Joe’s favorite place, Grand Marais. A place of peace and hopefulness for him.

Memorial Donations are requested to be sent to Hope Hospice, Development Dept, 9470 Health Park Cir, Ft. Myers, FL 33908 in lieu of flowers.