Merle Kepford

Merle William Kepford was born July 25, 1921, near Magnolia, Iowa to Leon and Gretchen (Galland) Kepford. When Merle was seven years old the family moved to the Dunlap area. Merle attended Vinland Country School and graduated from Dunlap High School in 1939. On June 2, 1945, Merle married Katherine "Kitty" Fienhold. Merle has lived on the same farm since 1944.

Merle was baptized as a Jehovah Witness in 1957. He became an elder in 1958. Merle and Kitty started out in the Missouri Valley congregation and then moved to the Denison congregation. He has been the Presiding Elder for the Denison congregation since they started attending there. The couple was recently at a Witness convention in Kansas City at the time of his death. Merle loved being a Witness. He also loved farming, playing cards and watching sports. In his earlier years he loved to dance.

Merle died on Saturday, June 14, 2014, in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 92 years, 10 months and 20 days.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Clyde and Richard Kepford; and sister, Helen Brummer. He is survived by his wife, Kitty Kepford of Dunlap, Iowa; two children, Sandra JoAnne and her husband Bill Wadsworth and Dennis Merle Kepford and his wife Marilyn all of Dunlap, Iowa; six grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Edith Fienhold and brother-in-law, Ted Campbell and his wife Kay all of Council Bluffs, Iowa and many other relatives and friends.