Merle Strothcamp

Merle Eldon Strothcamp of Ankeny, Iowa, 94, was born on November 27, 1928, to Miriam and Adolph Strothcamp in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Following a brief illness, Merle entered eternal life on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, Iowa. A celebration of life will be held for Merle at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home located at 605 Lyon Street in Des Moines. The visitation will take place during the hour preceding the service. Burial will occur at a graveside service at 3:00 p.m. on the same day at the Radcliffe Cemetery, in Radcliffe, Iowa.

Merle grew up and worked at Sherman, in Hardin County, Iowa where his parents ran a country store, elevator and John Deere dealership. He attended country school near Sherman and graduated from Radcliffe High School in 1946. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Business from Ellsworth Community College in 1950 and also attended Iowa State College. He was a lifelong fan of the Iowa State Cyclones, and especially enjoyed following the ISU men’s basketball team. Merle also served his country during the Korean War, and at age 85 was proud to travel together with his fellow veterans on an honor flight to Washington D.C. where they visited the Korean War, World War II, and Vietnam War Memorials and Arlington National Cemetery.

Merle married Judy Searcy on June 16, 1957 in Cresco, Iowa. Merle and Judy made their home on their family farm near Buckeye, Iowa where they lived for more than 50 years. They also raised their children, Jeff and Janeen there. Merle farmed and raised livestock in the Sherman and Buckeye area for more than 30 years, and also worked at Mary Greeley Hospital in Ames, Iowa for 12 years. He was active in his church in Radcliffe for many years, serving as an usher and on the church council. Merle and Judy moved from their farm to Ankeny in 2008 and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2022.

Merle will be greatly missed by his wife, Judy of Ankeny, by his children, Jeff (Kristin) Strothcamp of Ankeny, and Janeen (Bill) Earwood of Carmel, Indiana; by his grandchildren, John (Aleksandra) Strothcamp, Kyle Strothcamp and Mark Strothcamp all of Ankeny, Kathy (Aaron) Baugh of Speedway, Indiana and Julie (Jared) Doyle of Acton, Massachusetts; and his great-grandchildren, Jordan, Ava, Hudson, Hunter, Hazel, Deckard and Kieran. He will also be greatly missed by his sister-in-law, Peggy Burmaster of Overland Park, Kansas and brother-in-law, Bill (Louise) Searcy of Sun City West, Arizona; and by his nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Miriam Strothcamp, by Judy’s parents, Wayne and Alpha Searcy, by sisters-in-law, Mary Virginia Searcy and Betty Tyler, and by brothers-in-law, Larry Burmaster and Dr Warren (Ty) Tyler.

Memorials may be directed to Faith Evangelical Church AWANA Program and Habitat for Humanity. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

We give thanks for the life and service of Merle Eldon Strothcamp.

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