Merle A. Eksman

Mason City ? Merle A. Eksman, 80, of 1069 Fair Meadow Drive., died Thursday, December 22, 2005 at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. Memorial services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday (December 28, 2005) at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Samuel Hamilton-Poore officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Memorials may be directed to the Merle A. Eksman memorial fund. Merle Alvin Eksman, born on May 12, 1925, in Carroll, Nebraska passed away on December 22, 2005 at the age of 80. Merle graduated from Carroll High School in Carroll, Nebraska in 1942 and served in the United States Army from 1943-1946. He attended Norfolk Junior College in Norfolk, Nebraska from 1946-1948 earning his diploma while working at Graham Ice Cream Company. Merle then began his 28 year career with Chicago Northwestern Railroad in Norfolk, Nebraska in May 1957 and retired in Mason City in August 1985. He married his wife Jane in 1980 and remained happily married until his passing. Merle was a life member of the American Railway Association and the Veterans of Foreign War and a long time member of First United Methodist Church in Mason City. Merle had a passion for all things railroad, reading, movies, bowling and photography. He was a collector of coins, stamps, books and trains. He enjoyed travel in any form (especially in his Lincoln) and had visited all but 4 of the United States. In his retirement, he made it a weekday practice to solve a crossword puzzle and share a cup of coffee with his retired buddies from the railroad for more than 20 years. While he was an MP in the Army during World War II, his most memorable duty was to guard top ranking Japanese officials during war crime trials. Merle spent a great portion of his life selflessly caring for and supporting aging and ailing family members. He took pleasure in spending time with, photographing and video taping his family and step-grandchildren and sharing stories of the past. Merle is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Jane Bryson (McCray) Eksman, sister-in-law June Bryson (Ralph) Coffin of Nevada, TX, step-sons Kerry (Tammy) McCray of Hector, MN and Kenton (Carrie) McCray of Mason City, IA, step-daughters Kelleen McCray (Frein) (Tom) Calhoun of Clear Lake, IA and Kandrea McCray (Bruce) Jelle of Chanhassen, MN, step-grandchildren Lucas Frein, Elizabeth and Lindsey Calhoun; Ryan, Brooke and Lita McCray; Travis and Echo McCray; Troy, Anthony and Kevin Berg; 2 step-great grandsons; niece and nephew Marlys and Marvin Jurgens; great-nieces and nephews Tanya, Stacy, Joshua and Jessy, special cousin Audrey (Virgil) Schlack and other aunts and uncles. Merle was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Ethel (Montgomery) Eksman, sister Verla Eksman Jurgens and grandparents. With him, the world was a brighter place.

Visitation:
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at on December 28, 2006 (map/driving directions) 9:00 AM to 9:00 AM at on December 26, 2006 (map/driving directions)

Service:
11:00 AM at 213 N. Pennsylvania Ave on December 28, 2006 (map/driving directions)