Obituary
Ishpeming – Wayne L. Merrick, age 82, of 211 E. Pearl St., Ishpeming passed away on Thursday November 25, 2010 at the Bell Hospital following an apparent heart attack.
Wayne was born March 24, 1928 in Agar, South Dakota the son of the late Leslie and Edna (Tomforhde) Merrick. He grew up in Ellendale, ND and graduated from the University of North Dakota, Ellendale branch in 1949. He taught school and coached multiple sports in Gackle, ND for three years after college.
In 1952, he entered in a retail partnership with his twin brother Warren, which brought him to Negaunee in 1957 when they acquired the Ben Franklin store there. The retail partnership lasted for 40 years and multiple locations. As the small town retail stores gave way to the regional chain stores in the 1980's, Wayne adapted by adding a custom blind and shade business to his store in Ishpeming, and operated that business until he retired in 2008 at age 80.
Wayne had served on the Negaunee City Council, the Negaunee and Ishpeming DDA's, the Board of the First National Bank of Negaunee (Range Bank), the Board of Bell Memorial Hospital in Ishpeming and was a member of the Ishpeming Rotary Club for many years.
Wayne is survives by his wife Mable (Schaller) Merrick, whom he married in 1950. Together they raised six children, all of whom survive him – Loren (Joyce) Merrick of Ann Arbor, MI, Jane (Jim) Hall of Dubuque, Iowa, Steve (Denice) Merrick of Sumter, SC, Jan (John) Brennan of Warren, NJ, Jill (Robin Andrews) Merrick of Tucson, AZ and Kelly (Peter) Vitti of Pittsburgh, PA. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren – Lucas (Roxanne) Merrick, Amy (Archie) Proffitt, Lindsay (Steve) Golich, Brandon Hall, Andrew Hall, Cori (Jeff) Davenport, Bryan (Laura) Merrick, Christopher Merrick, Kelly Brennan, Kevin Brennan, Katie Brennan, Anna Vitti and Rosa Vitti, along with 6 great grandchildren – Chloe and Noah Proffitt, Ella and Cole Davenport, Maxwell Golich and Caitlyn Merrick, and numerous nieces and nephews including three special nieces in Marquette - Nancy Zerbel, Mary Beauchamp, and Sarah Martin. He was preceded in death by his brother Charles, sisters Lois and Ardys and his twin brother Warren.
The family will greet relatives and friends from 3 until 5pm on Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 5:00pm on Monday with the Rev. Robert Sutherland to officiate. Entombment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens.
Wayne was born March 24, 1928 in Agar, South Dakota the son of the late Leslie and Edna (Tomforhde) Merrick. He grew up in Ellendale, ND and graduated from the University of North Dakota, Ellendale branch in 1949. He taught school and coached multiple sports in Gackle, ND for three years after college.
In 1952, he entered in a retail partnership with his twin brother Warren, which brought him to Negaunee in 1957 when they acquired the Ben Franklin store there. The retail partnership lasted for 40 years and multiple locations. As the small town retail stores gave way to the regional chain stores in the 1980's, Wayne adapted by adding a custom blind and shade business to his store in Ishpeming, and operated that business until he retired in 2008 at age 80.
Wayne had served on the Negaunee City Council, the Negaunee and Ishpeming DDA's, the Board of the First National Bank of Negaunee (Range Bank), the Board of Bell Memorial Hospital in Ishpeming and was a member of the Ishpeming Rotary Club for many years.
Wayne is survives by his wife Mable (Schaller) Merrick, whom he married in 1950. Together they raised six children, all of whom survive him – Loren (Joyce) Merrick of Ann Arbor, MI, Jane (Jim) Hall of Dubuque, Iowa, Steve (Denice) Merrick of Sumter, SC, Jan (John) Brennan of Warren, NJ, Jill (Robin Andrews) Merrick of Tucson, AZ and Kelly (Peter) Vitti of Pittsburgh, PA. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren – Lucas (Roxanne) Merrick, Amy (Archie) Proffitt, Lindsay (Steve) Golich, Brandon Hall, Andrew Hall, Cori (Jeff) Davenport, Bryan (Laura) Merrick, Christopher Merrick, Kelly Brennan, Kevin Brennan, Katie Brennan, Anna Vitti and Rosa Vitti, along with 6 great grandchildren – Chloe and Noah Proffitt, Ella and Cole Davenport, Maxwell Golich and Caitlyn Merrick, and numerous nieces and nephews including three special nieces in Marquette - Nancy Zerbel, Mary Beauchamp, and Sarah Martin. He was preceded in death by his brother Charles, sisters Lois and Ardys and his twin brother Warren.
The family will greet relatives and friends from 3 until 5pm on Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 5:00pm on Monday with the Rev. Robert Sutherland to officiate. Entombment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens.
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