- Date Of Birth: March 22, 1939
- Date Of Death: December 1, 2014
- State: Illinois
Merwyn A. Laatz, 75, of Marseilles, died December 1, 2014, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Merwyn was born on March 22, 1939 in Ottawa to Ernest and Marguerite (DeArmond) Laatz of rural Marseilles. He was a graduate of Seneca High School. He enlisted in the US Army in 1958, serving in Korea and Guam. Merwyn married Shirley Watson, of Marseilles, on November 7, 1964. He was trucking owner-operator who retired in 2006 after 39 years in the industry. Merwyn was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Marseilles, a past Master of the Marseilles Lodge 417 A.F. and A.M., and the Bloomington Consistory. He loved his family, grandchildren, friends, pets, working on equipment, and traveling.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of 50 years, one son, David (Heather) Laatz, of Streator, one daughter, Kimberly (Timothy) Turner, of Chicago; 6 grandchildren: Brenna and Jacob Roth, Madison and Melisa McDonald and Nolan and Ellery Laatz, all of Streator, his sister, Jeanne (Burton) Waite, of Ottawa, sister-in-law, Beverly England, of Marseilles, brother-in-law Mark (Lynn) Watson, of Bloomington, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Laverne and brother-in-law, Dale England. Pallbearers will be Jacob Roth, Brian “Tate” Frig, Melvin “Dick” Kueteman, John Fisher, Kenneth Lane and Bud Kuhn. Honorary pallbearers will be Burton “Bud” Waite, Don “Red” Hadsill and Ronnie Hill.
