Dale Meritt

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 - 10:34:20 am CDT

Dale Alan Meritt, 61, of Fremont died Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, at his home in Fremont.

He was born Oct. 2, 1946, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Jesse and Goldie (Marvin) Meritt. He graduated from Mahaska High School in 1964, attended Fairbury Junior College, graduated with a teaching degree, master’s of education and E.D.S. from the University of Nebraska, and nearly completed his doctoral of education studies. He fulfilled his lifelong dream of being an educator as he taught, served as principal and later as a superintendent over a career from 1967 to 2005. His career in education took him all over Nebraska. In October 1964, he married Carol Barton and together they had three children, Angie, Scott and Becky.

Dale was a great advocate for change in the educational system to facilitate the growth of young people as they were prepared to enter the ever-changing world. While in Gallup, N.M., he met Beverly Krueger and they eventually were married on Aug. 30, 1990. They moved to Fremont after he retired.

Dale will be forever remembered by his wife, Beverly; daughters, Angie Rhine (and husband, Monty) of Wamego, Kan., and Becky Lueken (and fiancé, Jason Maas) of Pierce; grandchildren, Sarah, Chandler, Kayla and Kelly; great-grandchildren, Kaleb, Lexus and Brooklyn; sisters, Jerri Kerr (and husband, Wiley) of Topeka, Kan., Sharon Richards and Ruth Scrimshaw of Gallup, N.M.; brothers, Wayne Meritt of Brownville, Kenneth Meritt of Louisburg, Mo., Alvin Meritt and Gerald Meritt of Winslow, Ariz.; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Scott Meritt; and sister, Rosella McBratney.

The funeral was held today at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville, Kan. Dale was laid to rest beside his parents and his son, Scott, in Hubbell Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fremont.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

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Guestbook for Dale Meritt:

Barb Legge Stone
Sep 4, 2008 12:49 PM
Angie
Was so sorry to read about your Dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Barb Legge Stone
Kimberly Scheer
Sep 4, 2008 2:21 PM
Dale and I worked together, and he helped me mutiple times with my geometry homework, he was my tutor that I called him. He offered to help me my junior year in high school because he told me that he wanted to see me succeed. He also attended my band concert one time, there he was sitting in the front row, with his big smile that he always had on. Dale was the kind of man that if someone walked by him without a smile he would try his hardest to make you smile. He was always full of jokes and compliments. He really helped me a lot through my years in high school. I passed geometry with his help, he didnt have to help me but he wanted too. I really am thankful for having had met him and have been blessed that he was so kind and generous to me. He will be greatly miss.
Richard
Sep 4, 2008 2:27 PM
I worked with Dale at Food 4 Less. He always had a smile for you and a good joke. He will be sorely missed.
Heather Cone
Sep 4, 2008 3:27 PM
I also worked with Dale at Food 4 Less. We will all miss his 'joke of the day'. Dale always had a smile for everyone and he made it his job to make sure that everyone around him had a smile as well. Customers would wait to go through his line instead of going through someone else because of his great personality.

We will sorely miss him.
Brenda Uhing Herring
Sep 4, 2008 3:33 PM
Angie
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of you dad. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Joyce Larry Sparks
Sep 5, 2008 8:15 AM
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of sorrow.
Dale was a happy person and an inspiration to others.

Joyce & Larry
FremontAvon
Carla Jo Roberts
Sep 5, 2008 10:23 AM
My thoughts and prayers go out to Dale's family. I also had worked with Dale and he would always have a smile on his face. No matter how awful he was feeling he could tell a joke and make you laugh. He would brag about his family and how things happened for a reason. Good or bad they happened and depending on how you dealt with them was what kind of person you were. He never judged you, he would just listen. I will miss seeing him in his blazers and his ties for Nebraska game days. Now that Dale is at peace try and keep those memories close and know that he was special to alot of people.
Galen Tammy Snover Heiser
Sep 5, 2008 10:35 AM
Becky -
So sorry to hear of your loss. You & your family are in our thoughts & prayers through this difficult time.
Mary Eastberg
Sep 5, 2008 11:15 AM
All of us at ESU#2 wish you our deepest sympathy in the loss of Dale. He was always happy and just nice to talk to. He always enjoyed education and helping the school children to become adults. We miss him here and also miss him at the store. We know you are going to be taken care of. Sympathies to all of the family members
Kory Strudthoff
Sep 5, 2008 3:59 PM
I was sorry to hear of Dale's passing. I was one of a group of concerned citizens that worked with Dale through the course of the school merger in Beemer, Nebraska. I can say that as a result of that effort, I am the proud recipient of a genuine "Certificate of Meritt." Always professional, courteous and quick with a joke, Dale will be missed. My sincerest sympathy to his family.
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