Merle R. Bardell
April 11, 1935 ~ May 25, 2021
Merle R. Bardell, 86, of Wyanet, Illinois passed away Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at his home with his family by side.
He was born April 11, 1935 in Elizabeth, Illinois the son of Ralph and Elizabeth (Beyer) Bardell.
Merle graduated from Stockton, Illinois High School with the Class of 1953. He joined the Army in 1954 and served in Germany from 1954-1956.
In October 1957, he married Lorraine Scace. She passed away in October 2009. He married a classmate, Marlene Williams Hocraffer in September 2016.
He spent 20 years driving a semi across the U.S. and 21 years working for pavement maintenance.
Surviving are his wife, Marlene, four children: Randy (Ronda) Bardell of Estacada, OR; Kerry Bardell of Marengo, IA; Pam (Tracy) Wargo of Streator, IL, and Todd Bardell; four step-children: David (Doreen) Hocraffer of Portland, OR, Ken (Julie) Hocraffer of Freeport, IL, Nancy (Dale) Wilhelms of Browntown, WI, and Tom Hocraffer of Freeport, IL eight grandchildren: Amanda (James) Fox, Brandy (Juan) Ramirez, Jennifer (Tony) Allen, Damian (Christy) Bardell, Annie Bardell, Heather (Tyler) Douglas, Benjamin Bardell, and Micah Bardell; four step-grandchildren: Brandon Hocraffer, Tyler (Alex) Hocraffer, Travis Wilhelms, and Erin Hocraffer; 14 great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; three brothers: Marshall (Martha) Bardell, Eldon (Shirley) Bardell, and Ray (Dixie) Bardell; one brother-in law, Francis Hawk; one sister-in law, Bonny Bardell; and numerous brothers-in law, sisters- in law, nieces and nephews. .
Preceding him in death was his first wife, Lorraine, his parents, one sister, Carol Hawk and one brother, Wayne Bardell.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Princeton, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Princeton, Illinois, with Kenneth Hocraffer, officiating. Burial will take place in Forest Hill Cemetery, Wyanet, Illinois with military rites accorded by the Princeton Veterans Group and the Wyanet V.F.W. Post 6634. Memorials may be directed to the Wyanet V.F.W. Post 6634 and St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to www.grant-johnsonfh.com.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Grandpa
As I am sitting here thinking about Grandpa I have so many things I will miss about him. I know I am not alone as he touched so many lives.
He was stubborn, an eye roll champion, the hardest person in the world to buy for, and the most loyal man I know.
He was a very hardworking and would work circles around people half his age. He taught us the value of a dollar. Always said to save and buy what you want instead of settling for a cheaper version. You know you’ll buy it more than once if you do. He would fight for who and what he believed in, but he wasn’t to proud to admit when he was wrong. He showed us unconditional love even when we made it hard. You could count on him to help when you needed it. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He was a deeply rooted family man and loved them all beyond measure. He would welcome a stranger and in a matter of minutes they would be a friend. He was the kind of man you just wanted to be around. Always had a smile and a looooooooooong conversation. I’m sure that others saw a different side of him but every version would have the same main values- Family, Love, Loyalty, Honesty, Compassion, Hard work, and Trust.
All of these made him the kind of person we should all strive to be.