James C. Merwin

 James (Jim) C. Merwin, 90, of Clear Lake, died Sunday, June 15, 2014 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, from injuries he sustained in a vehicle accident on June 6.

      A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, at the First Congregational Church, 205 W. 10th Ave. N., Clear Lake, with Pastor Dennis Ganz officiating. Visitation with family and friends will be at 1 p.m. until the service. Inurnment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Clear Lake VFW. Memorials may be given to Hospice of North Iowa or the First Congregational Church.
Jim was born Feb. 9, 1924 in Jasper, Texas, to Rev. Chauncey and Alice (Eyestone) Merwin. The family lived many years in Texas and moved to Des Moines, Iowa, then to Clear Lake in 1933 where Jim attended school, and later moved with his family to Jackson, Tenn., where he graduated from high school in 1943. Immediately following graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and served overseas for 25 months in India, with Headquarters Company Port of Debarkation and Headquarters Company Base Section, India Burma Theater. He was in charge of a mail section which handled official and personal mail for the headquarters. He supervised 13 men, which included typists, orderlies, messengers, file clerks and registration clerks on distribution of correspondence and publications. He was honorably discharged April 4, 1946.
After serving his country he became the “unofficial greeter” at the Clear Lake Post Office as he served as the front window clerk for 33 years until he retired in 1979.
Jim was a member of the First Congregational Church and the Clear Lake Noon Lions Club. He was “Uncle Jim” to lots of people in the Clear Lake area as well as a wonderful dog sitter, house sitter, cleaner, etc. He delivered many loaves of homemade bread to people in Clear Lake and was always willing to help wherever he could.
He is survived by four sisters, Ruth (Richard) Hill, of Mason City, Sara (Ed) Lyon, of Memphis, Tenn., Carol Mae Wilson, of Jackson, Tenn., and Pauline Milam, of Newburgh, Ind.; one brother, Rev. Paul (Tillie) Merwin, of McKenzie, Texas; sister-in-law, Judy (Walter) Merwin Johnson, of Franklin, Tenn.; many nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Alice Dorrill, of Boston, Mass.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Chauncey and Alice Merwin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Ebaugh, Helen (Jim) Anderson, Kathryn (Stan) Zirbel, Jane (Jim) Levisay, Doris (John) Bowman, and Althea (Jim) McClendon; brothers and sisters-in-law, Art (Mabel) Merwin, Ralph (Helen) Merwin and Rev. David Merwin.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.