Merrill E. Taber

Merrill E. Taber

Merrill E. Taber, 82, of rural Atkinson, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Good Samaritan Society – Geneseo Village surrounded by his family. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Atkinson, IL. Reverend S. Stephen Engelbrecht will celebrate. Burial will follow at St. Anthony Cemetery where military honors will be accorded by the Atkinson American Legion Post. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 14, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Atkinson Chapel where the rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Atkinson Rescue Squad or to St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Merrill was born on April 17, 1936, the son of Gordon and Alice (Atwell) Taber. He graduated from Atkinson High School with the class of 1954. Merrill married Marian Claeys on October 20, 1956, in Atkinson. Marian preceded him in death on October 27, 1988. Merrill was a lifetime grain and livestock farmer in rural Atkinson, where he farmed the family farm. He served on the Atkinson Fire Department, Atkinson School Board, Atkinson American Legion Post, and the Moose Lodge for several years. Merrill enjoyed deer hunting and attending his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s events.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Tina (Bob) Floming, Atkinson, Kim (Marv) VerStraete, Atkinson, Brenda, (Guy) Gripp, Annawan, Mike (Pat) Taber, Atkinson, Anita Park, Atkinson, Mark (Jori Shull) Taber, Cameron, IL, Tonya Taber, IN, and Lin (Justin) Ebbert, Annawan, 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, sister, Edley Hamer, Atkinson, and his special friend Lorrie Jurgensen, Atkinson.

Merrill was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Alice, wife, Marian, brother, Gordon “Coxie” Taber, sister, Donetta Wainwright, son-in-law, Chris Brieser, and great-granddaughter, Emma VerStraete.