Merle Estes

Merle Estes

Merle Estes
April 26, 1944 – September 23, 2021
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 77

Merle L. Estes, 77, of Oskaloosa, passed away Thursday, September 23, 2021, at Mahaska Health in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Merle L. Estes Sr. was born in England on April 26th 1944 to Nina and Arvene Estes. At the age of three, the family moved to the United States aboard the “Queen Mary” ship.

Merle was raised around Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he met and married Cathy (Behymer) Fenton and had five children, they later divorced.

Merle worked and retired from Maytag in Newton, Iowa.

Merle, also known as Sandy, enjoyed reading books, collecting and watching movies, telling stories, and above all else, his family. He was a man of many words and had a story, or two, to go along with any question he was asked.

He has left his love and orneriness behind in his four remaining children: Clara (& Eugene) Warren of Fremont IA, James Scott (& Michele Nicholson) Estes of Oskaloosa IA, Merle L. “Sonny” (& Becky Swan) Estes Jr. of Russel, IA and Brenda Loraine (& late John Rauch) Estes of Oskaloosa; and Ryan (& Sabrina) Craver of Keomah Village, who was like a son to him; his eleven grandchildren: Melissa (& Cameron) Upton, Courtney (& Stephen) McCalister, Candace (& Jakob) Turner, Aaron Estes, Harlan Almond, Ty Shilling, MacKenzie (& Keegan Gordin) Miller, Steven Scott, and Makayla (& Jayden Samson) Estes, Killian Craver, and Michael Lee Barwick; and also, his eleven great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Melissa Lynn Estes; a grandson, Shane Michael Craver; a sister, Mary-Anne Estes; a son-in-law, John Rauch; and his parents Nina and Arvene Estes.

As was his wish, Merle’s body has been cremated, and a private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Langkamp Funeral Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with Merle’s final arrangements.