LHS Class Of 1970
Special

My Father Joseph Alfred Merrill Jr.

On 19 Dec 2004

Passed This Vail of Tears

at Condell Memorial Medical Center

With My Sister Mary Howard in Attendance

He was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin
on the 8th Of April in 1920
spent part of his childhood in the Blue Island Neighborhood on the south side of Chicago before the Family moved to Winnetka. He was a graduate of New Trier High School and Attended DePauw University for three Years.

He volunteered for the draft after the Seventh Of December 1941 and after many tries was accepted for limited service in the US Army Medical corps as a medical technician. This was due to the fact he had lost his right eye to a flying chunk of concrete when he was twelve.

During his Tour of Duty he trained at Camp Grant south of Rockford Illinois then help conduct training as a cadre member. Working with Japanese Americans destined to become Part of the 442 Regt Combat Team in Europe for which he volunteered also. Instead he did two tours of the South Pacific as part of the 623rd Hospital Ship Platoon . Spending time in Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides islands,  Noumea New Caldonia and New Guinea.

After the War he met and Married my mom Ann Stirling Gregory. They Celebrated their 54th Wedding Anniversary just before his passing.

He was Past Master of Libertyville Lodge #492 AF&AM a Member of Both the American Legion and The Veterans of Foreign Wars here in Libertyville and participated in Numerous other Societies as a Member and on Occasion as a Leading Officer.

His Life Long Passion was the Shooting Sports both on the Range and in the Field. Living his life long dream on a thirty day safari to Kenya in 1970 and on numerous trips in the Continental lower 48 States and Canada.

He was Preceded In Death By His Parents Joseph Alfred Merrill & Hortense Cawker Merrill and His Sister Sarah Inebnet

He is Survived by His Brother Peter Merrill of Boca Raton Florida
Wife Ann Gregory Merrill
Son Joseph A. Merrill III
and 2 Daughters Mary Howard and Janet Merrill

with 2 Grand Children Gregory Howard and Jeffery Howard

Services

 23, Dec 2004 at Burnett-Dane Libertyville
See Card Below
Visitation 400 pm to 700 pm
Masonic Service at 700 pm

http://www.maptown.com/geos/newcaledonia.html

http://www.vanuatutourism.com/ Espiritu Santo

Any Donations may be given to
The Libertyville Fire Protection District
Paramedic Equipment Fund

Joseph Alfred Merrill Jr.

8, April 1920 --- 19, December 2004

A Celebration 23, December 2004

We Waked My Dad This December Eve

Over One Hundred Strong We Were

Cleansed By Air So Crisp

Our Skins Were Cut When

From Car To Parlor We Dashed,

Limped, Hobbled Or Wheeled.

One Night Shy Of St. Nick’s Time

We Gathered To Cut Last Silver Cord

With Kind Quiet Words And Ribald Rhyme

Solemn Invocation And Earsplitting

Caterwaul!

It Started Slow And Built

And Built Anew One Word

Upon Another, Side Talk To

Lubricate; Condolences Whispered

With Hugs Long Drawn For Comfort.

He Sat Stoic To The Side

In His Bronze 8 x 8 x 8

Quiet, Proud, Unmoving

Till Picked Up Boldly And

Placed At Center;

For His Lodge Brothers, Kind

Ritualistic Attention

So Clear And To The Point

No Mass Will Ever Equal Those

Focused Words, Acts and Postures

Which Released To Soar

A Brother Who

This Vale Has Passed:

To Wait Our Coming

Where Troubles Never Touch.

Then Six Fold Strong

Our Voices Stood

One By One

Two Jarheads, Father And Son

Jokester Hunter And His Foil,

Other Daughter And

Proud Nephew Doc.

To Speak Plain Truth

To Assembled Mass

About What We All Will Miss

About Our Father, Husband, Friend,

Who Now Soars Beyond Care.

Waiting Our Future Coming

Then Pipes Shrilled and

Thundered Down The Narrow Halls

Piercing Deep The Final

Roots Of Pain

Excising In One Flash

Last Dregs Of Pain,

So Forth They May Bubble

Be Cried Out And

Only Sweet Memory Play

From Now and Henceforth.

So Back Home We Trooped

To Eat And Drink Our Fill

At Table Never Empty

Then Till Wee Hours

Spun Out Tales To Cement

Our Friendships Ever Stronger

Till The Day When We Also

To The Side Will Sit

Watching As Our Silver Cords

Are Cut And We Too

Will Soar Beyond

Where Our True Selves

Will Grow

Eternal In The Heavens

Copyright 24, Dec 2004 Joseph A. Merrill III
Sarge the Poet
All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2002 Joseph A. Merrill III

Design and posted first on 20, Dec 2004

Last reloaded 03, July 2008
Libertyville High School Class of 1970
PO BOX 186
Libertyville Illinois 60048-0186
Page URL: http://sargethepoet.com/lhsc70/JAM_Jr.htm

Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, LTD.

Phil Dane    Paul Chominski