Merle Lee Bunting
July 26, 1932 — August 17, 2022
Merle Lee Bunting, 90, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Family will greet friends and family from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2022, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Pastor John Albertson will officiate.
Merle was born on July 26, 1932, in Davis County, Iowa, the son of Clyde H. and Irene M. (Dozark) Bunting. He was a 1950 graduate of Sac City High School in Sac City, Iowa. Merle served honorably in the United States Navy during the Korean War, from 1951 to 1955. During this time, he worked for the Pentagon and met the love of his life, Helen E. Jones, at a softball game on a blind date. On September 10, 1954, Merle and Helen were united in marriage at the Naval Chapel in Washington D.C. Soon after, they moved to Storm Lake, Iowa, and raised their son, Don. Merle worked in the dairy industry as a milk man and ice cream man, at Hygrade Meat Packing Plant, and retired from Iowa Office Supply. Merle and Helen retired and moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas in 1994. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing and going on road trips with Helen. Merle was a big jokester and loved to make people laugh. His greatest joy was his family. Merle will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Merle is survived and lovingly remembered by his son, Don and Susan (Barnes) Bunting of Anamosa, Iowa; granddaughter, Kaya (Scott) Primrose; grandson, Nathan; three great-grandchildren, Krystin Peterson, Jessalyn (Akshay) Mutyala, and Alex Primrose; four great-great grandchildren, Keirrah, Phin, Sylvia and Arihan; three brothers, Dwight (Rocky) Bunting, Keith Bunting, and Dale (Lois) Bunting; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 64 years in 2019, Helen Bunting; brother, Gary Bunting; and sister, Marcella (Bernard) Dick.
Merle was born on July 26, 1932, in Davis County, Iowa, the son of Clyde H. and Irene M. (Dozark) Bunting. He was a 1950 graduate of Sac City High School in Sac City, Iowa. Merle served honorably in the United States Navy during the Korean War, from 1951 to 1955. During this time, he worked for the Pentagon and met the love of his life, Helen E. Jones, at a softball game on a blind date. On September 10, 1954, Merle and Helen were united in marriage at the Naval Chapel in Washington D.C. Soon after, they moved to Storm Lake, Iowa, and raised their son, Don. Merle worked in the dairy industry as a milk man and ice cream man, at Hygrade Meat Packing Plant, and retired from Iowa Office Supply. Merle and Helen retired and moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas in 1994. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing and going on road trips with Helen. Merle was a big jokester and loved to make people laugh. His greatest joy was his family. Merle will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Merle is survived and lovingly remembered by his son, Don and Susan (Barnes) Bunting of Anamosa, Iowa; granddaughter, Kaya (Scott) Primrose; grandson, Nathan; three great-grandchildren, Krystin Peterson, Jessalyn (Akshay) Mutyala, and Alex Primrose; four great-great grandchildren, Keirrah, Phin, Sylvia and Arihan; three brothers, Dwight (Rocky) Bunting, Keith Bunting, and Dale (Lois) Bunting; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 64 years in 2019, Helen Bunting; brother, Gary Bunting; and sister, Marcella (Bernard) Dick.
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