Merle Dible

Merle Eldon Dible, 84, longtime resident of Oakley, died Sunday, June 15, 2014 at the Logan County Hospital. He was born July 27, 1929 to Clarence and Lola (Keefer) Dible, on a farm in Thomas County near Menlo. Merle spent his early years from age 3-7 in Denver at the National Jewish Children’s Hospital with bronchiectasis. He then spent the remainder of his youth on the family farm near Menlo, where he graduated from Menlo Consolidated School in 1948.

On October 5, 1952 Merle married Delma Uhrich in the Oakley Christian Church. They resided on a farm south of Oakley until “retiring” and moving into Oakley in 1997. To this union were added 2 children, Nancy and Clay.

Merle enjoyed woodworking, square dancing, traveling all over the USA and a special anniversary trip to Europe, along with helping with 4-H, serving on the church board as a Deacon and serving on the Oakley Township Board.

His real passion was his animals. Merle delighted in everything with feathers, fins, furs, hooves and antlers. His joy was sharing his farm and zoo with area school children, which he did for many years. In later years, he loved seeing those same kids bringing out their children and then grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother and sister; brother, Louis; two nieces, Joane Walker and Leslie Carlin and infant nephew, John Dible.

He is survived by his wife Delma; children, Nancy (Don) Bartell, Wamego, Clay (Jeannie) Dible, Wichita; grandchildren, Tina Dible, Dakota Bartell; step grandchildren Justin (Jennifer) Londagin; great grandchild Shyloh Hawkins; step great grandchildren, Grady Londagin, Brooklyn Londagin; brother, Harry (Lori) Dible; sister, Judy (Roy) Cooley; sister in laws, Glennis (Lyle) Boyd, Laura Ann Holmberg and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 4-8:00 p.m. Friday, June 20, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley. Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 21, 2014 at the Oakley Christian Church. Memorials are suggested to the Oakley Christian Church, The Cave or the National Jewish Health- Pediatrics in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com