Mervin Eugene "Merv" Flegel

    Mervin Eugene Flegel, age 92, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Rosewood Adult Foster Care, Ithaca, MI .

     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, January 16, 2023, with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating.  Burial will take place at Ithaca Cemetery. Visitation will be held 4:00-7:00 P.M. on Sunday, January 15, 2023 and Monday at 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the funeral home.

     Mervin was born in Hamilton Township, Michigan on August 9, 1930, the son of Fred William and Leora Jane (Hattus) Flegel. He graduated from Ithaca High School with the class of 1948.   On March 18, 1950, Mervin married Valeria Ann Purdy in Angola, Indiana. They were blessed with sixty-six years of marriage prior to her passing on July 26, 2016.

     Merv enjoyed going to the casino, and mushrooming. He rode snowmobiles until he was 84. In his younger years, he liked riding motorcycles. Most of all, Merv loved time with his family sitting around the table drinking a beer and telling stories.  Merv worked for GM for 30 years, retiring in 1980. In retirement, he spent another thirty years as a currier for Commercial Bank.

     He is survived by four children: Lynn (George) Hessbrook, Cathy (Bob) Patterson, Larry Flegel, and Vic (Tina) Flegel. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: John (Mindi) Hessbrook, Ryan (Kristie) Hessbrook, Katie (Allan) Hopkins, Keith Patterson, Cory (Chris) Crawford, Amy (Jim) King, and Brandon Flegel; sixteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Val, grandson Shannon Flegel, and six siblings: Margorie (Loring) Buchholz, Ila (Ralph) Williams, Lyle (Aletha) Flegel, Wayne (Juanita) Flegel, Fred (Bernice) Flegel, and Vesta Jean (Francis) Sherman.

     Memorials may be made to Gratiot County Commission on Aging, 515 S. Pine River St. Ithaca, MI 48847.  Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, Michigan.