Helga I. Merkle (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Helga Ingred Merkle, daughter of Kurt and Annemarie Rarrasch Rudat, was born December 18, 1940, in Magdeburg, Germany. She departed this life Thursday, November 14, 2013, in Mercy Hospital, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-two years, ten months, and twenty-seven days.
On August 18, 1984, she was united in marriage to Dale E. Merkle, and they shared the last twenty-nine years.
Her parents preceded her in death.
Helga is survived by her husband, Dale, of the home; a daughter, Dena Bennett, and her husband, Crit, of Sugar Hill, Georgia; two sons, Hannes Rudat, and Roger Rudat, both of Germany; two grandchildren, Yanik and Aundrea; a brother, Deitleff Rudat, of Germany; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born and raised in Germany and then came to the United States. She made her home in Kansas for a number of years, and worked in the custodial department at Fort Riley, Kansas. After she and Dale were married, they moved to Lebanon, Missouri, and enjoyed their retirement years.
Helga enjoyed making patchwork quilts and loved doing embroidery. She always tried to attend the European Embroidery Convention each year in either Switzerland or Germany. She was a generous yet thrifty person who was also a good manager. She was a wonderful cook and particularly enjoyed German food. She was very forgiving, had an easy going disposition, and took good care of her husband.
Helga was a loving wife, mother, and sister, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and know that she will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Memorial donations to the American Cancer Society, may be made through the funeral home.
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