Merle L. Thiedeman

Merle Louis Thiedeman, loving husband of Mary Ann Brockelsby Thiedeman, was born January 23, 1934, the son of Irwin and Gladys Jans Thiedeman. He died on Thursday, March 10, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of seventy-seven.
Merle was born in Carroll, Iowa. He grew up on a farm outside of Westside and graduated from Westside High School. On July 19, 1952, he was united in marriage with Mary Ann Brockelsby. He attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, before the couple returned to farm south of Westside. They were blessed with the birth of four children.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Spending time gathering with friends and family was important to him. Social games were a favorite pastime of his, including cards, dominoes and games of all kinds. He enjoyed reading daily newspapers to keep up on current events and also books, especially Louis LAmour westerns. He was a lifetime member of Schuetzen Verein and the United Church of Westside. After retiring from farming he enjoyed traveling around the United States and visiting loved ones. Merle and Mary enjoyed the snow bird lifestyle spending many winters in Mesa, Arizona. An annual highlight was hosting his family reunion at Folly Beach, South Carolina, with his children and grandchildren.
Merle was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann; one son, Gary and his wife, Jean; three daughters: Gail and her husband, Paul; Terri; and Karen and her husband, Dean. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Dawn, Dirk, Sara, Erin, Megan, Emily, Matthew, Amanda, and Karly; and four great-grandchildren: Alexis, Zachary, Madelyn, and Logan; one brother, Gerald and his wife, Lila; other relatives and friends.