Evelyn V. Merkel, age 94 of Celestine

Evelyn V. Merkel, age 94 of Celestine, Indiana, passed away at 6:34 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019 at home.
 
Evelyn was born in Celestine, Indiana on March 8, 1925 to Frank and Bertha (Gehlhausen) Kluesner.  She married Alfred A. Merkel on October 18, 1952 in St. Celestine Catholic Church.  He preceded her in death on June 21, 2002.
 
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Isidore Parish - St. Celestine Catholic Church and their St. Ann's Sodality. She was active in the CRHP program and a recipient of the Simon Brute' award.  She was also an organizing member of the Celestine Community Club.
 
She enjoyed cooking, keeping her house, and spending time with family and friends.  
 
Surviving are two daughters, Donna Ulrich (Paul), Borden, IN, and Diane Niehaus (Larry), St. Anthony, four sons, Andrew Merkel (Janie), Celestine, Gary Merkel (Ann), Evansville, Bernie Merkel (Lisa), Celestine, and Doug Merkel (Renee), Celestine, fourteen grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren.
 
Preceding her in death beside her husband was one daughter who died in childbirth, Jane Ann Merkel, and three sisters, Anna Mae Kempf, Lou Alice Buechler, and Mary Heeke.
 
A Mass of Christian Burial for Evelyn V. Merkel will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at St. Celestine Catholic Church in Celestine, with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
 
A visitation will be held from 3 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at the Becher-Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper, IN.  The St. Isidore Parish will pray  the rosary at 2:45 p.m. 
 
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Isidore Parish, or to a favorite charity.