Merle M. Pfeiffer

Merle M. Pfeiffer

Sept. 10, 1933 - Nov. 27, 2016

ARAPAHOE, Neb. -- Merle M. Pfeiffer, 83, of Arapahoe, died Sunday (Nov. 27, 2016), at Elwood Care Center in Elwood, Neb,

He was born on Sept. 10, 1933, at the family farm in Frontier County to Oswald and Dorothy (Niedeberger) Pfeiffer. He graduated from Arapahoe High School in 1951.

He volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1954 and attended Guided Missile School in El Paso, Texas. He was later deployed to Chicago, Ill., to be with the AAA Missile Battalion. In November 1956, he was honorably discharged.

He married Barbara at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Chicago in April 1957. They returned to Nebraska, where he started his own farming career. For 30 years he was a director on the board of Twin Valleys Public Power District. He was president of the Gosper County 4-H Council and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the American Legion Post No. 96 of Arapahoe.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Oswald Pfeiffer; and sister, Ilene Koch.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara of Arapahoe; children, Jon and wife, Julie Clark Pfeiffer of Malibu, Calif., Leesa and husband, Michael Marion of Omaha, Neb.; sisters, Mildred Post of Kearney, Neb., and Gladys Shaffer of Lincoln, Neb.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joan and Luther Bergstrom of Unionville, Va.; and three grandchilden.

Visitation is at Wenburg Funeral Chapel in Arapahoe on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, from 10 a.m., to 8 p.m. Family present will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday and prior to the service at the church.

Funeral services are Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church at Arapahoe with Rev. James Moshier officiating. Burial will be at the Arapahoe Cemetery with military honors by American Legion Post No. 96 of Arapahoe and the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard.

Condolences and personal reflections may be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com

Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church or to the St. Germanus Fatima Shrine.

Wenburg Funeral Home of Arapahoe is in charge of arrangements.