Merle C. Unkrich
Merle Clement Unkrich, 92, of rural Winfield, died Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia, MO.
Memorial services for Mr. Unkrich will be at 10 AM Saturday, April 12, at the Olds United Church of Christ. Pastors Carl and Elaine Vass will officiate. Burial will be in the Asbury Cemetery, rural Olds, with a flag presentation by the Iowa Military Funeral Honors Detail. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM Friday at the church. The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, is in charge of the arrangements.
Merle was born September 12, 1932, in Henry County, IA. He was the youngest child of Harold Henry and Alice Grace (Canby) Unkrich. Merle graduated from Olds High School in 1950 and then attended Iowa Wesleyan College, where he met his future wife, Betty Arlene Wait. Merle graduated from Iowa Wesleyan in 1954, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was a lifelong supporter of Iowa Wesleyan, serving as the chapter advisor for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity for many years as well as establishing the Betty and Merle Unkrich Scholarship. In later years Merle received an honorary doctorate degree from Iowa Wesleyan.
On March 13, 1953, Merle and Betty were united in marriage at the Olds Congregational Church. They were married for 65 years until Betty’s death in 2018.
Merle was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Germany during the Korean War. After the Army, Merle started farming with his father and two brothers. The three brothers also started Unkrich Feed and Grain in 1956. Throughout his farming career, Merle was active in various farming related organizations, including serving as a director with the Iowa Corn Growers Association and serving on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. Merle was especially proud when the farm where his parents settled and where he was born was recognized in 2017 as a Century Farm.
Merle loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as spending time at his condo in the Lake of the Ozarks. He also enjoyed working at the Olds Church food stand at Old Threshers, never missing a year.
Merle leaves behind four children and their spouses – Merle Ann Unkrich and Brad Davis of Mediapolis, IA; Wallace and René (Gray) Unkrich of Winfield, IA; Amy and Peter Philipp of Green Bay, WI; and Micki Unkrich of Thousand Oaks, CA; 11 grandchildren – Diana (Kelly) Nichols, Philip Davis, Brent Unkrich, Alicia (Alex) Haas, Kerry (Hannah) Unkrich, Lauren Philipp, Chloe (Brennan) Davies, Grace Philipp, Rachel Philipp, Margaret Teegarden, and Laura Teegarden; and 9 great grandchildren – Davis, Simeon, Leah, and Bo Nichols; Nile and Wray Unkrich; Blake Slater; and Grayson and Isla Davies.
His wife Betty, his parents, his 2 brothers – George Unkrich and Clarence Unkrich – and his grandson Marc Davis precede Merle in death. Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to Wounded Warrior Project, Operation Hope Medical Mission (volunteer surgical mission to Honduras), or Hope House of Miller County, Missouri (food pantry). Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.