Obit: Cole, Myrtle "Merle" (1925 - 2006)
Contact:  Shari Hahn

Surnames: Cole, Ulrich, Schultz, Gearhart, Spuhler, Noeldner, Spaeth, Fischer, Broeske, Warns

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald, 10/10/06

Cole, Myrtle "Merle" (24 April 1925 - 8 Oct. 2006)

Myrtle 'Merle' Cole

COLBY -- Myrtle "Merle" Cole, 82, of Colby, died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006, at Saint Joseph's Hospital Palliative Care Unit.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006, at Zion Lutheran Church, Colby. Burial will be in Abbotsford Public Cemetery. The Rev. Matthew Christians will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Greg Cole, Tom Spuhler, Josh Cole, Jason Cole, T.J. Cole and Cole Noeldner.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Maurina Funeral Home, Abbotsford, and from 9:30 until service time Wednesday at the church. There will be a VFW Auxiliary Service at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Maurina/Community Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Merle was born April 24, 1925, in Abbotsford to George and Emma (Ulrich) Schultz. Merle and Arthur Cole were married April 12, 1944. He preceded her in death in 1992.

She lived her entire life in the Abbotsford-Colby area. Merle worked at the Colby Hotel, Hedler's Supermarket, Figi's and was a cook for the Colby School District. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 2227 of Colby.

Merle is survived by her children, Richard Cole of Colby, Ken (Ruth) Cole of Marathon, Glen (Kerry) Cole of Colby, Jack (Cindy) Cole of Marshfield, Ronda Gearhart of Eagle Grove, Iowa, Sharon (Mike) Spuhler of Loyal and Barbara Noeldner of Unity; one daughter-in-law, Donna (Jerry) Spaeth of Spencer; 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; a brother, Clyde Schultz of Spencer; two sisters, Tudie Fischer of Colby and Carmen (Clyde) Broeske of Dorchester; and one sister-in-law, Jean (Jack) Warns of Abbotsford, Wis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arthur; one son, Terry Cole in 1988; two granddaughters, Tina and Angela; four sisters, Lorna, Lydia, Lucille and Jaunita; and two brothers, Clarence and Wallace.