Merald E. Van Vleet

May 22, 1950 - Aug. 31, 2009

OBERLIN -- Merald Eugene Van Vleet, 59, passed away Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

He was born May 22, 1950 in Oberlin, the son of Denzel and Bernice (Lockhart) Van Vleet. Merald attended Decatur No. 203 rural school then Decatur Community High School where he was active in football and FFA. After graduating in 1968, he furthered his education at Fort Hays State University, where he graduated in 1972 with a degree in mathematics.

On Dec. 27, 1969, Merald married Pam Grose. After he finished his education in Hays they made their home in Lebanon. One daughter was born to their union and they were also blessed with two granddaughters.

Merald was employed at the Danbury Co-op Association then furthered his career by working his way up to manager. While he served as a manager, his family lived in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. In October of 2008, Merald and Pam moved back to Oberlin.

He loved the outdoors, farming with his dad as a young man and working with the farmers through the Co-op. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening.

Merald was preceded in death by his father; father-in-law, Wayne Grose; several uncles and aunts; and one niece.

Survivors include his wife, Pam of Oberlin; daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Dan Sidwell of Booneville, Mo.; granddaughters, Ravyn and Alyssa Van Vleet; mother, Bernice Van Vleet of McCook; one brother, Alva Lee Van Vleet and friend, Dessie of Trenton; sister, Karen Carter of Wichita, Kan.; mother-in-law, Eileene Grose of Oberlin; Pam's siblings and their spouses, Gary and Dee Grose of Longmont, Colo., Cheryl and Sidney Metcalf of Oberlin and Kim and Mark McConville of Indianola; in addition to many nephews, nieces and cousins.

Funeral services will be Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at 11 a.m., at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin with the Rev. Mike Walker officiating. Interment will be in the Oberlin Cemetery.

Visitation is today until 8 p.m., at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given in his name.

Pauls Funeral Home of Oberlin is in charge of arrangements.