Memorial Services for Merritt, 89, of Jefferson will be 11:00 am Monday, March 23, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Jefferson.  A private family burial will take place in the Jefferson Cemetery.

Merritt Harmer, 89, of Jefferson, died March 14, 2009 at Regency Care Center in Jefferson. A Memorial Service of Remembrance will be held at 11:00am Monday, March 23 at First Baptist Church in Jefferson, with Bob McKnight officiating. A family visitation will follow the memorial service, and will be held in the church’s fellowship hall. Mr. Harmer’s cremains will be interred at the Jefferson Cemetery in a private ceremony. Services are being arranged by Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson.

Barton Merritt Harmer was born August 28, 1919 to Bart and Blanche Harmer of Pacific Junction, Iowa. He graduated from high school in 1937 and worked in and around Glenwood, Iowa where he met and married Virginia Pine in 1942. Merritt and Virginia had 66 years together before her death in November 2008. They were parents to two sons, Jack and Judd.

Merritt was a World War II Army veteran, 1944-46, with service in occupied Japan from 1945-1946.

After WWII, Merritt went to work for Safeway Grocery Stores in Glenwood as a meat cutter; in 1951 the Harmers moved to Jefferson where Merritt ran the Safeway meat counter for the next 23 years. After retiring from Safeway he went on to work for American Athletic until full retirement in 1982.

He was a good dad and great grandpa, with advice and encouragement always at the ready. Throughout his life he always enjoyed hunting morel mushrooms, fishing and during his retirement years he traveled all over the United States. He enjoyed his many friends, playing cards and golf and just visiting in general. He was also very proud of his house, his yard and his flower and vegetable gardens.

Merritt Harmer was preceded in death by his parents; his son Judd in 2006 and his wife Virginia in 2008. He is survived by his son Jack Harmer and grandson, Scott Harmer, both of Jefferson and granddaughter Angela Harmer of Des Moines; daughter-in-law Chris Henning of Jefferson, along with many good friends.