Merle Harpenau

Merle Harpenau, 98, of Tell City, passed away on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Tell City, IN.

He was born April 3, 1925, in St. Marks, the son of Benjamin and Alvina (Hagedorn) Harpenau.

Merle was united in marriage to Wilma Rickenbaugh until her passing in 1975. He then married Madeline Eaton on August 14, 1976. He had worked for Fischer's Furniture and Appliance for many years before retiring in 1988. He was a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and of St. Paul Catholic Church. He enjoyed square dancing, woodworking, and painting crafts.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Madeline Harpenau of Tell City; daughter, Sharon Schneider (Nick) of Bloomfield, IN; son-in-law, Mike Harmon of Tell City; siblings, Leonard Harpenau (Mary Pat) of Kansas City, and Mary Meunier of Santa Claus; grandchildren, Nicole Byrd (Jeremy), Stacey Brown (Troy), Darren VanConia, and Thomas Lawalin; great-grandchildren, Sydney, Xavier, Nixon, Jaeden, Jaclyn, Kylie, Caleb, Remington, and Macie.

In addition to his parents, Merle was preceded in death by his first wife, Wilma Harpenau; his daughter, Rita Harmon; son, Ronnie VanConia; and a brother in infancy, Bernard Harpenau.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00am on Monday March 4, 2024, at St. Paul Catholic Church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Sunday, March 3, 2024, from 3:00 to 6:00pm with a Knights of Columbus Service to be held at 6:00pm, then visitation on Monday from 8:30 to 9:30am, at Zoercher-Gillick Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Knights of Columbus or St. Paul Catholic Church.

Condolences may be left at zoercher-gillickfuneralhome.com

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