"I Posted the pictures of Merle plowing at one of many plow days we did years ago. He was a nice person to be with and always helping in anyway he could. Condolences to the family. "
In loving memory of
Merle Duane Phillips
July 24, 1932 - May 26, 2022
Merle Phillips, 89, of Atlantic, IA, passed away Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson. Burial will be in the Carson Cemetery. Visitation at the funeral home will be held one hour prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m. Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson is caring for Merle and his family.
Memorials: Jennie Edmundson Foundation for Cancer Care
Merle Phillips, 89, of Atlantic, IA, passed away Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA.
Merle Duane Phillips, one of eight children of Clifton and Lorna (Nelson) Phillips, was born on July 24, 1932 in Carson, Iowa. He grew up and attended school in Carson, graduating from Carson High School in 1951. Merle enlisted in the United States Army and served in Korea from 1952 to 1954.
Merle and Beverly Ann Janssen were married on December 7, 1955 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Teresa Ann and Pamela Jane. They lived in the Chicago, Illinois area for 18 years before returning in 2002 and made their home in Atlantic, Iowa.
Merle was a member of the United Methodist Church in Carson and a member of the American Legion. He was an avid storyteller, sandbagging card player and tractor buff. Merle loved venturing out to plow fields with friends and enjoying apple pie afterwards.
Merle was preceded in death by his parents Clifton and Lorna Phillips; beloved wife Beverly; brothers, Dean Phillips, Lowell Phillips, and Darrell Phillips; and sister Lila Jean.
Merle is survived by his daughters, Teresa Phillips and friend Harvey Moyer of Council Bluffs, and Pamela Rairdin and husband Brent of Cedar Rapids, IA; 3 grandchildren; 2 step grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; sisters, Alice Phillips of Mason City, IA and Ilene Phillips of Carson; sisters-in-law LaVonne Miller of Persia, IA and Shirley Phillips of Harlan, IA; brother-in-law Gary Janssen and wife Dawn of Indianola, IA; many special nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Tributes
"Merle was a classmate of mine and we graduated from Carson High School in 1951. He always treated me kindly and with much respect. Wendell Volkens"