White Funeral Home
1315 Main Street
Jesup, Iowa 50648

Jesup – Merle Dale Wilson Jr., 81 years old, of Jesup, IA, walked into Jesus’ arms, Monday, February 12, 2018, at Covenant Medical Center, Waterloo, IA, after a long battle with cancer.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. – Saturday, February 24, 2018, at White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, with Pastor Joel Becker and Pastor Mike Anderson officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 23^rd at White Funeral Home, Jesup, and for an hour before the service Saturday at the funeral home.

Merle was born October 4, 1936, in Hampton, IA, the son of Merle Ridgeway Wilson and Dorothy Marie (Arends) Wilson. He graduated from Waterloo East High School with the class of 1953. He married Delilah Tarr and they later divorced.  He was then united in marriage to Victoria Louise Bishop at the American Lutheran Church in Grundy Center. They made their home in Jesup. Merle became a field superintendent for Midwest Conveyor Company which led him and Vicki to travel and work in many different states. After his retirement, in 1998 they returned to their home in Jesup. Merle liked to hunt, fish, and pen letters to the editor about preserving natural resources. Merle loved animals, especially his dogs. He was active with Relay for Life and he was a member of Millwright and Technical Engineers Local 2158, Bettendorf, IA. He was a founding member, elder, and past chairman of the board of Lord of the Harvest Lutheran Church, Fairbank, IA. He was most recently a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Oran, IA.

Merle is survived by his wife, Vicki of Jesup, IA; 1 son, “Skip” Merle (Karen) Wilson, III of Jesup, IA; 1 daughter, Sue Anne (Larry) Hart of Palm Bay, FL; children Dan (Denise) Wilson of Evansdale, IA, Dana (Scott) Morey of Calleo, MO, and Angela Klatt of CO; 11 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; 1 brother, Howard Wilson of Evansdale, IA, 1 sister, Bobbie Wilson of Waterloo, IA; and his 2 dogs, Bodie and Molly.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 4 brothers, Carl Wilson, Larry Wilson, Don Wilson, and Mike Wilson; 2 sisters, Marlene Mead and another sister in infancy; 1 sister-in-law, Jeannine Wilson; and 1 brother-in-law, Tracy Mead.

Memorials will be directed to the American Cancer Society and the Otter Creek Animal Shelter.

White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, is in charge of arrangements.

Private condolences maybe left for the family through the contact us tab.