In Memory Of
John R. Merrill
1935
2022
John R. Merrill
March 27, 1935 — January 19, 2022
John R. Merrill, 86, of Topeka, KS passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. He was born on March 27, 1935 in Bremen, Kansas, to George "Leonard" Merrill and Dora Viola Farrell Merrill.
John attended high school in the small town of Irving, Kansas. He worked for the Ensley's Gas Station. During his senior year, John and Dot Ensley took John in to live with them so he could finish his high school career at Irving. John was very appreciative for the opportunity and the extended love the Ensley's showed him. He became the older brother to twin girls, Jane and Jean.
After graduation, John went on to enlist in the United States Army. While in the Army John was stationed in Germany and served as a military police officer. When John returned home, he started attending IBM Trade School in Omaha. During this schooling he was courting the love of his life, Barbara Wagor.
Barbara and John were married on September 27, 1959.
John went on to work for Washburn University where he was the Administrator of Data Processing. While his love for his job was something he was proud of, John and Barbara welcomed three beautiful children into this world. They have two daughters and a son. John coached his children in softball and baseball. He spent many hours in his garage tinkering and working on cars with his son and friends. In 1997, John retired from Washburn University. He and Barbara traveled abroad. They spent time in Europe taking in as much county as time would allow. For their 50th anniversary in 2009 they took an Alaskan cruise. Over the next several years he loved to work on the farm raising cattle and riding his horses. John found time to hunt and fish, while attending as many sporting events with Barbara watching their grandchildren play soccer, volleyball, and high school swimming.
He is survived by his wife of the home, Barbara Merrill of Topeka, KS; his daughter Janell (Ed) Sanders of Topeka, KS; his daughter, Deena (Theo) Hernandez of Grandview, MO; and his son, Scott (Denise) Merrill of Topeka, KS; along with 9 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; a brother, George (Violet) Merrill, Marysville, KS; a sister, Helena Lamb, Blue Rapids, KS; a sister-in-law, Donna Nickle, Manhattan, KS; an extended sister, Jane Burkhead, Marysville, KS; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
John was preceded in death by his parents, George & Dora Merrill, John and Dot Ensley, his brother-in-law, Bill Lamb, his mother and father-in-law, Loma and Karl Wagor, a sister-in-law, Virginia Coil and an extended sister, Jean Clawson.
Cremation has taken place and no memorial services are planned. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association - Topeka, 3625 SW 29th St., Suite 102, Topeka, KS 66614.
Dove Cremations and Funerals - Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd., Topeka, KS 66610 is assisting the family.
To leave a message of condolence for John's family, or to share a special memory of John, visit the guestbook below.
John attended high school in the small town of Irving, Kansas. He worked for the Ensley's Gas Station. During his senior year, John and Dot Ensley took John in to live with them so he could finish his high school career at Irving. John was very appreciative for the opportunity and the extended love the Ensley's showed him. He became the older brother to twin girls, Jane and Jean.
After graduation, John went on to enlist in the United States Army. While in the Army John was stationed in Germany and served as a military police officer. When John returned home, he started attending IBM Trade School in Omaha. During this schooling he was courting the love of his life, Barbara Wagor.
Barbara and John were married on September 27, 1959.
John went on to work for Washburn University where he was the Administrator of Data Processing. While his love for his job was something he was proud of, John and Barbara welcomed three beautiful children into this world. They have two daughters and a son. John coached his children in softball and baseball. He spent many hours in his garage tinkering and working on cars with his son and friends. In 1997, John retired from Washburn University. He and Barbara traveled abroad. They spent time in Europe taking in as much county as time would allow. For their 50th anniversary in 2009 they took an Alaskan cruise. Over the next several years he loved to work on the farm raising cattle and riding his horses. John found time to hunt and fish, while attending as many sporting events with Barbara watching their grandchildren play soccer, volleyball, and high school swimming.
He is survived by his wife of the home, Barbara Merrill of Topeka, KS; his daughter Janell (Ed) Sanders of Topeka, KS; his daughter, Deena (Theo) Hernandez of Grandview, MO; and his son, Scott (Denise) Merrill of Topeka, KS; along with 9 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; a brother, George (Violet) Merrill, Marysville, KS; a sister, Helena Lamb, Blue Rapids, KS; a sister-in-law, Donna Nickle, Manhattan, KS; an extended sister, Jane Burkhead, Marysville, KS; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
John was preceded in death by his parents, George & Dora Merrill, John and Dot Ensley, his brother-in-law, Bill Lamb, his mother and father-in-law, Loma and Karl Wagor, a sister-in-law, Virginia Coil and an extended sister, Jean Clawson.
Cremation has taken place and no memorial services are planned. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association - Topeka, 3625 SW 29th St., Suite 102, Topeka, KS 66614.
Dove Cremations and Funerals - Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd., Topeka, KS 66610 is assisting the family.
To leave a message of condolence for John's family, or to share a special memory of John, visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John R. Merrill, please visit our flower store.
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