Merle Grimm

Merle Grimm, 85, of Hiawatha, Iowa, and formerly of Urbana, Iowa, died Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Visitation will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Urbana Christian Church in Urbana, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial: Urbana Memorial Cemetery, Urbana. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Center Point, Iowa, is assisting the family. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Merle, under “video," starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

Merle was born on September 1, 1939, in Benton County, Iowa, to Merle and Laura (Palmer) Grimm. He graduated from Urbana High School with the Class of 1957. During his younger years, Merle enjoyed playing baseball and basketball. On April 2, 1960, he married Mable Irene Hepker in Urbana, and they shared a loving life together until her passing in 1983. Merle later married Georgene M. Staub in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Merle dedicated 30 years of his career to Rockwell Collins, retiring at age 55. In retirement, he pursued his passions for golfing, bowling, and trying his luck at the casino. A skilled golfer, Merle achieved the rare distinction of multiple hole-in-ones, a testament to his precision and dedication to the game. Equally talented in bowling, he rolled three perfect 300 games during his career. His love for sports endured, and he continued to bowl three times a week at May City Bowl in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Survivors include his sons, Rex (Darla) Grimm of Palo, Iowa, and Rick (Andrea) Grimm of Shellsburg, Iowa; four grandchildren, Erin (Jason) Zappas, Jason (Mayse) Grimm, Ryan (Andrea) Grimm, and Mitchell (Carly) Grimm; eight great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Kaye Grimm of Urbana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Irene Grimm; his second wife, Georgene Grimm; and his siblings, Barb Sherman (Jerry), Larry Grimm (Judy), and Ed Grimm.