Merle Leroy Beetley

Merle LeRoy Beetley, widower of Emma, was born July 23, 1917 at Fairbury, NE to George & Zola Weidenhaft Beetley. He passed away April 3, 2009 at Gardenside Long Term Care in Fairbury.

Merle was a proud member of the 1935 undefeated FHS football team, he graduated from Fairbury High School in 1936. Merle was united in marriage to Emma Kamler on August 6, 1941 at Camp Robinson near Little Rock, Arkansas and to this union a daughter and a son were born. They celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Merle's military service began with his enlistment in Company D of the 110 Medical Regiment of the Nebraska National Guard in 1936. He was mobilized for active duty in Dec. 1940 and served in WWII, until he was honorably discharged in Oct. 1945. He had overseas aaaignments in North Africa, France, Germany and Italy. He re-enlisted in Company D in Nov. 1947 and was assigned the unit administrator of the National Guard in Fairbury. In 1950 he was commissioned as chief warrant officier, which he held until his retirement in Feb. 1973. He served his country for 35 years and was awarded the Combat Medical Badge and the Bronze Star. Merle was a 50 year member of the VFW, American Legion and Elk's Lodge, all in Fairbury. He was also a member of the Jefferson County Veteran's Service Committee. His hobbies were gardening, attending sporting events, storm chasing and telling war stories.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Emma, brothers Oscar and Otto and sisters Mildred and Edna.
He survived by daughter Susan Hergott and husband Bill of Lincoln and a son David of Fairbury. Grandchildren Brandon Hergott and Brittany Hergott of Lincoln, a great grandson Elijah Hergott of Lincoln. Sisters-in-law Agnes Kleinschmidt of Geneva, Rosie Peter of Sutton, Bonnie Kamler of Blytheville, Ark. and a brother-in-law Gordon Robare and wife Joan of Wellington, KS.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Fairbury, NE, with Father Rudy Oborny officiating. Burial will be in the Fairbury Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice. A Rosary will be held Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury, with family greeting friends following the rosary.