James D. Merriman

James D. Merriman , 86, a resident of Adams Woodcrest for the past year and a longtime resident of Preble, Indiana passed away Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur.

He was born on Friday, February 12, 1932 in Adams County, Indiana the son of the late Omer H. Merriman and the late Mary B. (Carr) Merriman. He married Marge Menter on June 7, 1953 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Preble. They were married for 65 years before Jim’s passing.

Jim was a 1950 graduate of Monmouth High School. He retired in 1994 as owner & operator of Amishville, USA. He had previously owned Merriman's Family Restaurant & was the manager of Happy Humpty Restaurant. He had also worked for Don Ray Drive-a-Way from 1983 to 2005.

He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Preble where he had served as chairman and vice-chairman of the congregation and taught Sunday school. Jim had also served on the Wyneken School Board & served as president of the Social Club in Preble. He enjoyed winters in Florida with his wife. Jim and Marge were active in the Christ the King Lutheran Church in LaBelle Florida. Jim served as an Usher and was on various committees. He helped decorate the Church for Christmas and Easter. He was well known for his pancakes at their pancake and sausage meals.

Jim was always willing to volunteer with anything that needed done in the community or the church. He loved his family very much.

Survivors include his wife, Marge Merriman of Preble; son, Randy (Beth) Merriman of Decatur; two daughters, Judith Teague of Fort Wayne and Gail (Carey) Webster of Roanoke; two sisters, Rowena Vogelwede of Decatur and Sandra Sue Yodice of Fort Lauderdale, FL; seven grandchildren, Shanon (Heather) Merriman, Anthony (Rachel) Merriman, Ryan (Nickol) Teague, Aaron (Caitlyn) Teague, T.J. Steensma, Tyler Steensma, and Trey Steensma, and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Rose Kneuss and a son-in-law, Clyde Teague.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 22, 2018 at St. Paul Lutheran Church , Preble with Pastor Andrew Yeager officiating. Interment will follow in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Preble.

Friends will be received from 3-4 p.m. Saturday at the Woodcrest Chapel on October 20, 2018 and on Sunday, October 21, 2018 from 12 noon -2 p.m. and 3:30- 5:30 p.m. at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Preferred Memorials are to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wyneken Lutheran School, or Worship Anew.