Merle Inman
Hardin |
Merle Inman, a native son of Calhoun County, passed from this life on March 24, 2018 in Hardin, IL at the Calhoun Care Center under hospice care. Born at West Point Landing on May 3, 1926 the eldest son of Ellis Truman and Era Faye nee Stout. Merle lived an adventurous 91 yrs and was a lifelong resident of Calhoun County. Growing up at West Point, he learned to operate the ferryboat between Illinois and Missouri, delivered dump trucks of sand, ran the dredge, and whatever else his father had him do. Merle graduated from Calhoun High School in 1944.
Merle was called upon to serve his country in the US Navy during WWII on Sept 6th,1944. After boot camp and training, he was a “plankowner” of the USS Palmyra, a salvage craft tender assigned to US Pacific Fleet. He and his crewmates conducted operations at Midway Island, Tinian, Okinawa, and Guam. Had it not been for the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, he like many would have been part of the operation to invade Japan in 1945. Merle returned home, receiving his discharge on July 8th 1946.
He returned to Calhoun he continued working the family business with his father. Merle also travelled to California for a time to work and seek opportunities in the late 1940s. Merle’s destiny was to be in Calhoun and so he returned. In 1957, Merle married Mary Louise “Teddi” nee Barrer on October 18, 1957 in St. Louis and settled at West Point. Merle and Teddi owned Inman Marine for nearly 30 years engaged in bow-boating, dredging, constructing barges, and built 3 boats for the business until selling in 1993. Merle employed many Calhoun residents in his business sometimes running 24 hours a day during high water helping boats in and out of the locks.
Merle with Teddi found time to be world travelers. Together they visited over 150 world destinations and on one trip they retraced his voyage across the Pacific when he was in WWII. They visited every continent including Antarctica, was in Moscow during the attempted Russian coup in 1991, saw the Great Wall of China, Victoria Falls in Africa, the pyramids in Egypt, and took a 20-day transpacific voyage on a freighter from Long Beach, CA to Wellington, New Zealand. Merle was an avid reader favoring historical facts from WWII and political commentary.
Merle with Teddi were supporters of SIU-Edwardsville Business School. He was also a quiet supporter of charities, civic, and non-profit organizations. He was a lifetime member of the Batchtown American Legion Post #632 and Calhoun Historical Society with donations and artifacts related to the county. In addition, he also supported the Brussels Community Library, Lutheran Family and Children Services, and Wilson Cemetery.
Visitation is March 27th at 10am at Gress, Kallal, & Schaaf Funeral Home in Hardin. Funeral service at 11am with the Rev. Paul Frazier officiating. Interment will be at Wilson Cemetery in Batchtown following the service at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Wilson Cemetery or BJC Hospice. The family and friends wish to extend their thanks for the wonderful care provided to Merle by Calhoun Care Center and BJC Hospice.
Online condolences and guest book may be found at www.gresskallalschaaf.com
Gress, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home
