Louise Jean Merkle, the daughter of Wilbur and Neva (O'Dell) Novinger, was born at home in Taylor County, on October 25, 1932.  She died August 6, 2019, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, NE, at the age of 86 years, 9 months, and 12 days.

Louise attended country school near Bedford, and then graduated from Bedford High School with the class of 1951.  She went on to receive her baccalaureate of science in Elementary Education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1955.  On May 24, 1955, Louise was united in marriage to Richard Merkle at the Bedford Methodist Church.  They moved to Albuquerque, NM, for several years while Richard served in the Army.  They then moved to Missouri for one year before settling in Oakland.  Louise began teaching at Oakland Elementary School in 1974.  She retired from teaching in 1998.

Louise was an active member of the Oakland United Methodist Church and P.E.O.  Louise enjoyed creating original opera's while teaching at Oakland.  She liked singing in the UMC choir and the Merkle Family Circle.  She enjoyed working in the garden, sewing, and traveling.   Louise especially loved spending time with her family.

Louise is preceded in death by her parents; her brother John Novinger and wife Phyllis; and her sister Helen Clayton.

She is survived by her husband Richard of Oakland, IA; her children:  Cindy Freemyer and husband Wes of Oakland, IA, Rick Merkle and wife Susan of Indianola, IA, Steve Merkle and wife Victoria of Coralville, IA, and Susan Parman and husband Mark of Hayward, WI; her grandchildren:  Lane, Judith, Evan, Glenna, Laurel, Sarah, Marci, Frank, Sam, Abisha, Ellie, Sasha, and Lyova; thirteen great grandchildren; and her brother-in-law Orie Clayton of Clarinda, IA.  She is also survived by many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Oakland United Methodist Church.  Interment will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be on Friday, August 9, 2019, from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM at the Oakland United Methodist Church.  Memorial are suggested to the United Methodist Church Mission Fund for clean water.  Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.