Merle Everet Wilkening, 100 of Colo, passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Visitation will be 10-12 p.m. Saturday, November 9 at Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home (1418 Fawcett Pkwy) in Nevada. A luncheon will follow the visitation and a graveside service will be approximately 2 p.m. at the Colo Cemetery. Merle was born July 19, 1919, in State Center, the son of Chris H. and Aleta (Pfantz) Wilkening. He was raised on the family farm near State Center and graduated from State Center High School in 1939. He then enlisted in the Air Corps. on October 6, 1940 at Chanute Field, Illinois and was honorably discharged in October of 1945 from Maxwell Field, Alabama. Merle married Merie B. Banks on June 29, 1947, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fernald, Iowa. After WWII, Merle was a carpenter in Marshalltown and then pursued his dream of farming in Marshall and Story County. In the 1960's he and Merie went into the egg production business with Hy-Line Chickens and sold eggs for many years. After moving to Colo, in 1999 he continued to help on the family farm well into his 90's. He and Merie enjoyed camping with friends, polka and square dancing and spending winters in Brownsville and San Benito, Texas. Merle was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in State Center and American Legion Post #139 in Colo. Merle is survived by his wife, Merie of Colo; four children: Teresa (Doug) Hix of Nevada, Dennis (Tonnee) Wilkening of Nevada, Chris (Jodi) Wilkening of Nevada and Stan Wilkening of Colo; nine grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Marilyn Wilkening of Oshkosh, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents; a grand-daughter, Jennifer Witte; a sister, Kathryn Dull; and brothers: Melvin and Gene Wilkening. Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. www.rasmussonfh.com