Darrel Merry

Darrel A. Merry, 81, of Pender, Nebraska died at his home on Monday, July 12, 2010. The funeral for Darrel will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Church of Pender; Pastor Steve Breazier officiating. The visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the church, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will be a prayer service and Masonic service held at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery of Pender. Darrel was born in Thurston, Nebraska on March 1, 1929, the son of Alvin and Opal (Frey) Merry. He attended school and graduated from Thurston High School. In 1950, Darrel and his father purchased Heyne Lumber and changed its name to Merry Grain and Lumber Company. In June of 1951, Darrel was drafted into the United States Army, where he served two years. He married Charlene Kjorness in Sioux City, Iowa on June 22, 1952. To this union, two children were born: Craig and Karen. After his time in the service, they moved back to Thurston, when in 1969, he purchased his father’s share of the business. On May 1, 1981, Darrel sold the business to Farmers Union Co-op of Pender. In 1989, Darrel and Charlene moved to Pender, where he resided until his death. Over the years Darrel was very active. He served as a member of the ESU #1, as Chairman and member of the Thurston Village Board, the Thurston Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, as Pender Development Director, the Pender Museum, as a member and chairman of the Lewis & Clark Real Estate, and the Pender Hospital Board. He was also active in the church serving as a Methodist Lay Leader in Thurston, on the United Church Yoke Council, and the Administrative Board for the Methodist Church. Darrel served as the State of Nebraska Legion Commander from 1978 to 1979, and was active with the Pender Veterans Memorial Committee and at present served as the Adjutant for the Thurston American Legion. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Charlene, his daughter Karen and husband Larry Kay of Lincoln, their children Rory and Derek Kay; a son Craig and his wife Gloria Merry of Sioux City, Iowa and their children Kyle and wife Amanda Merry and Bryan and wife Carrie Merry. He is also survived by a sister Burla Dean Renz of Pender, his brother-in-law Lawrence and wife Barbara Kjorness of Sioux City, Iowa; his step-mother Martha Merry of Pender; step-sister Marilyn and husband Fred Lovelace of Omaha, Nebraska; step-sister Sharon Fabry of Omaha, Nebraska; step-brother Ronnie and wife Linda Fabry of Peru, Nebraska and a step sister-in-law Sandra Fabry of Lincoln, and many nieces and nephews. Darrel was preceded in death by his parents Alvin and Opal Merry, brothers-in-law LeRoy Kratky, Dutch Renz, Charles Kjorness, Ken Hoffman; step-brother-in-law Glen Fabry; and a sister-in-law Marcella Hoffman.