Mervin Morse

Mervin Morse

1931 – 2025

IDA GROVE - Mervin Morse, 93, of Ida Grove, passed away on Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Willow Dale Wellness Village of Battle Creek.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Ida Grove Methodist Church of Ida Grove. Rev. Luann Benge will officiate. Military Rites will be conducted by the McNamara-Moore Post No. 61 of the American Legion of Ida Grove. 

Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Ida Grove Methodist Church of Ida Grove. 

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com 

Mervin Allen Morse, the son of Warren and Georgia (Williams) Morse, was born on Sept. 30, 1931, on the family farm near Storm Lake. 

On Nov. 10, 1951, Mervin was united in marriage to Donna Williams at the Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Mervin was drafted in to the U.S. Army and left three days after his wedding. He was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict and proudly served his country until his honorable discharge in 1954. He returned to Storm Lake and the couple made their home on the farm where they were blessed with five children: Diana, Kenny, LeRoy, Doreen, and April.

Mervin loved living the farm life. He could often be found fixing or welding things back together and took pride in making the repairs himself. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing horseshoes. He also liked to bowl and golf. Mervin was a hard worker and instilled that in his children. He was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Storm Lake and enjoyed attending the weekly services.

After their retirement from farming, Mervin and Donna moved to Arkansas for several years. They then returned to Iowa and settled in Ida Grove, to be closer to family.

Left to cherish his memory include his wife Donna Morse of Ida Grove; children Diana (Vance) Ocheltree of Ida Grove, Kenny Morse of Bancroft, Iowa, LeRoy (Joan) Morse of Storm Lake, Doreen (Greg) Carlson of Ida Grove, and April (Paul) Dougherty of Newark, New York; 17 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild on the way; sisters Arlene Petersen of Newell, Iowa, and Jean Hahn of Riverton, Wyoming; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Warren and Georgia Morse; brothers Norton (Zelda) Morse, Frank (Vera) Morse, and Ivan (Betsy) Morse; sister Lois (Gerhardt) Gutz; brothers-in-law Ralph Petersen and Ray Hahn; and his parents-in-law LeRoy and Josephine Willams.