STEELEVILLE – Merle Lee Eggemeyer, 80, of Steeleville died peacefully at 2:20 pm on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at his home surrounded by his wife and girls.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Liewald and Lydia Eggemeyer; one brother, Melbert Eggemeyer: two sisters-in-law, Mildred Eggemeyer and Lorna Eggemeyer; two brothers-in-law Evert Fisher and Lester Thies.

Merle is survived by his wife of 55 ½ years, Donna (Johnson) Eggemeyer. Their four daughters: Betty (Fred) Hutchinson of Perryville, Missouri; Carol (Lee) Jirel of Chapin, of South Carolina; Annette (Rodney) Morwick of Fults, Illinois, and Doris (Allen) Mehrer of Monroe City, Missouri. He was the proud PaPa of five grandsons: Eric Hutchinson, Joey Hutchinson, Bobby Jirel, Nathan Mehrer, and Evan Jirel; three granddaughters: Adrian Mehrer, and twins Katie and Megan Morwick.

Other survivors include: one brother, Norman Eggemeyer of Waterloo, Illinois, and two sisters, Verdelle Thies of Chester, Illinois; and Wanda Cook of Raymore, Missouri.

Merle was born on June 28, 1939, in Blair, Illinois. He was a graduate of Steeleville High School where he was active in FFA and basketball. After graduation, he honorably served in the United States Marine Corps and trained to be a communications specialist. He earned many marksmen awards which he credited to years of shooting birds from the barn rafters with an air pistol. One of his more notable duties while in the service was delivering President Kennedy's stand down orders during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Upon honorable discharge, he began his 46-year farming career and worked various printing jobs; first at Reynolds Printing in St. Louis and then World Color Presses Sparta Printing Company in Sparta, Illinois.

Merle's love of the outdoors was evident in his hobbies. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, fishing, hogging, mushroom hunting, 4-wheeling, collecting antiques (marbles, cast-iron toys/banks, arrow heads, and glassware). The family will always cherish the annual traditions, including the deer hunts on the family farm, July 4th BBQ's, Labor Day Fish Frys, New Year's Eve card parties, winter cattle butchering, and summer sausage making. For those who knew him well, his infectious laugh, joking nature, quick wit, unique personality, and broad smile will be fondly remembered and deeply missed. Later in life, Merle could be found recycling cans, playing card games, and ridding the neighborhood of gum balls.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, private graveside services will be held, with burial at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Walsh, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Zion Lutheran Cemetery Fund, Steeleville Senior Center, or Maple Creek Hospice. Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville is assisting the family with the arrangements.