Merle D. "Butch" Wright
September 16, 1941 — February 2, 2009
Merle D. “Butch” Wright, 67, formerly of Central City and most recently lived at Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion, died of cancer, Monday, February 2, 2009, at the care center. Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2009, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City by Rev. Nick Needham. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial: Mt. Clark Cemetery, Central City.
Survivors include his father, Orville Wright of Onalosha, Wisconsin; four brothers, Donovan D. Wright and “Donna” of West Branch, Keith Wright of Ferryville, Wisconsin, Ronald Wright of Cresco, Lonnie Wright of Guttenburg; one sister, Dixie and “Leon” Kelchen of Dundee; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Augusta Fay Wright and sister-in-law, Dorthy Wright.
Butch was born just south of Paris, Iowa, on September 16, 1941, at home. Butch’s great-great-grandfather, Thomas Wright was one of the first settlers in Linn County. He came over from Cambridge Yard, England.
Butch lived around Central City most of his life attending country schools and later attended school in Central City. In the middle 1950’s Butch and his family moved to a farm near Linksville, Wisconsin, where Butch graduated from High School at Seneca, Wisconsin, where his mother is now buried. During High School Butch played trumpet in the band and in later years played tapes at funerals and functions in Central City. After graduation he helped his family farm for a short time then he went to work for the Co-op in Marion, driving a gas L.P. truck for a few years. Butch was also in the National Guard for six years.
For the next forty-two years, butch hauled milk for Swiss Valley Farms out of Cedar Rapids seven days a week. Only every once in a while would he take a day off. Butch loved his job and his many patrons over the years along with his many friends.
After living in Marion a number of years, he bought a home just south of Central City on Highway 13. He lived there until December of 2007 when he developed a tumor in his brain which was cancer. He had surgery at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids on January 10, 2008. After spending three months at the hospital he moved to Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion where he remained until his death.
Butch was always caring about his parents, brothers and sisters, all of his friends, and milk customers past and present.
Cards and Memorials may be directed to the family by sending them to Donovan D. Wright, Box 776, West Branch, IA, 52358.
Survivors include his father, Orville Wright of Onalosha, Wisconsin; four brothers, Donovan D. Wright and “Donna” of West Branch, Keith Wright of Ferryville, Wisconsin, Ronald Wright of Cresco, Lonnie Wright of Guttenburg; one sister, Dixie and “Leon” Kelchen of Dundee; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Augusta Fay Wright and sister-in-law, Dorthy Wright.
Butch was born just south of Paris, Iowa, on September 16, 1941, at home. Butch’s great-great-grandfather, Thomas Wright was one of the first settlers in Linn County. He came over from Cambridge Yard, England.
Butch lived around Central City most of his life attending country schools and later attended school in Central City. In the middle 1950’s Butch and his family moved to a farm near Linksville, Wisconsin, where Butch graduated from High School at Seneca, Wisconsin, where his mother is now buried. During High School Butch played trumpet in the band and in later years played tapes at funerals and functions in Central City. After graduation he helped his family farm for a short time then he went to work for the Co-op in Marion, driving a gas L.P. truck for a few years. Butch was also in the National Guard for six years.
For the next forty-two years, butch hauled milk for Swiss Valley Farms out of Cedar Rapids seven days a week. Only every once in a while would he take a day off. Butch loved his job and his many patrons over the years along with his many friends.
After living in Marion a number of years, he bought a home just south of Central City on Highway 13. He lived there until December of 2007 when he developed a tumor in his brain which was cancer. He had surgery at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids on January 10, 2008. After spending three months at the hospital he moved to Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion where he remained until his death.
Butch was always caring about his parents, brothers and sisters, all of his friends, and milk customers past and present.
Cards and Memorials may be directed to the family by sending them to Donovan D. Wright, Box 776, West Branch, IA, 52358.
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