Gilbert E. Merkel, 82

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Gilbert E. Merkel, 82, of Hillsboro, formerly of Harvel, died on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, at Hillsboro Area Hospital.

Visitation will be held Friday, Aug. 14, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Christian Church in Witt. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 2 p.m. at the church with the Rev. William Cox officiating. Burial will be held in Harvel Cemetery.

Mr. Merkel was born Feb. 9, 1938, in Centralia, to Gilbert E. and Flossie (Wilkerson) Merkel. He married Fran Cachera, and she preceded him in death in 1998. He then married Donna Oller, and she preceded him in death in 2005. He later married Carolyn Franzen Sarsany, and she survives.

He graduated from Nokomis High School with the class of 1957, and went on to serve his country in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft and engine mechanic at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.

Mr. Merkel served as mayor of Harvel for five years and was a member of the Harvel Village Board for six years. Additionally, he was a member of the Raymond, Harvel and Witt Christian churches and the Raymond-Harvel Fire Department.

He sang locally for churches and nursing homes with his family. He enjoyed wintering in Texas, and loved to hunt and fish.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Merkel is survived by two daughters, Dawn (Byron) Davis of Lake in the Hills and  Lesia Mixon of Pulaski, TN; one son, Gilbert (Jodi) Merkel of Harvel; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Becky Emmerson, Doug Oller, Jason (Jami) Sarsany, Lori (Tom) Weiss, Jackie (Mark) Everett, Lisa (Glenn) Lipe, Chris (Paul) Kolling and Michon (Zach) Pals; 24 stepgrandchildren; 21 stepgreat-grandchildren; and one sister, Kathryn Pilger of O’Fallon.

In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be directed to Christian Church in Witt.

Online condolences to the family may be left at www.houghfuneralhome.com.