Merkes, Lilas

1923 - 2011  (88 years)    Has 16 ancestors and 2 descendants in this family tree.

• Name	Merkes, Lilas
  Born	4 Jun 1923	Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Gender	Female
  Education - High School	1941	Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA   [1]
  Appleton High School Class of 1941
  Died	29 Oct 2011	Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Obituary	1 Nov 2011
  Appleton Post Crescent
  Lilas M. Van Straten (Merkes, Heimann), age 88, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Appleton Medical Center, with her family by her side. Lilas was born in Appleton on June 4, 1923, daughter of the late Walter and Della (Nettekoven) Merkes. On October 9, 1943, she married Edward Heimann in Appleton. They shared twenty-four wonderful years together prior to his sudden death in 1967. At that time, she began working for H.C. Prange Company in downtown Appleton. In March of 1976, Lilas married Glen Van Straten; Glen preceded her in death in 1993. For many years, Lilas was a member of St. Therese Catholic Church in Appleton where she belonged to the Christian Mothers' Society. Most recently she had been a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. Mom was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who devoted her life to her family. She was an exceptional homemaker and cook and enjoyed spending time at home with family for birthdays and special Christmas gatherings, playing cards, sharing kitchen tips and recipes, long walks, reading, flowers, and vacations in northern Wisconsin and in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She loved children, and enjoyed doing special little things for them. Lilas had a way of brightening everyone's day, putting a smile on their face, and putting her family and friends first in her life. During Glen's illness, she devoted her days to caring for him during his stay in the nursing home. Lilas will be remembered as a faith-filled woman, who, throughout life's difficulties, never lost her faith in God. Lilas is survived by two children: Robert (Rene') Heimann and Jeanne (Jay) Van Geffen, all of Appleton; four grandchildren: Matthew (Vicky) Heimann, John (Jenny) Heimann, Lisa Van Geffen and her fiancé' Kyle Larson, and Laura Van Geffen; two great-grandchildren: Ashton and Makayla; a sister: Joyce (Robert) Van Fossen of Appleton; a brother: James (Mary) Merkes of Appleton; three sisters-in-law: Gladys Heimann of Appleton; Ann Merkes of Appleton; and Carmen Merkes of Shiocton. She also leaves behind her step-children from her marriage to Glen: James (Pat) Van Straten of San Antonio, Texas; Joan (Rodger) Laffey-Roloff of Stoughton; Donna (James) Remmert of Boulder, Colorado; Bonnie Babcock of Eagan, Minnesota; Patricia Eick of Mosinee; Marie (Frank) Walsh of Boulder, Colorado; and Terry (Vicki) Van Straten of Merrill. There are also many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. Lilas was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Edward and Glen, an infant daughter Judy Heimann in 1951; a son William Heimann in 1976; a sister Jane Merkes; brothers Kenneth Merkes, Norbert Merkes, and Richard (Carol) Merkes; and step-sons-in-law: James Laffey, James Babcock and James Eick. The funeral liturgy for Lilas will be held at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC CHURCH, 500 W. Marquette Street in Appleton, with Fr. Thomas Farrell officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call directly at the church on Wednesday morning from 9:00 AM until the hour of the service. Our hearts are heavy with sadness today, for we'll miss your kind and loving ways of helping us through all of life's trials and brightening our days with your smiles. Your kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids too, mean everything to you and you kept all of our pictures right in your view. Now we will frame your picture in our mind, to cherish and love 'till the end of time. Rest in peace, Grandma, we love you. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors and nurses in the ICU at Appleton Medical Center for their care and support. Wichmann Funeral Home 537 N. Superior Street Appleton 739-1231 Online condolences www.wichmannfargo.com Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on November 1, 2011
  Person ID	I73126	1FamilyTree
  Last Modified	10 Nov 2017

  
  

  Father	Merkes, Walter A.,   b. 11 Jan 1899, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA ,   d. 17 Aug 1964, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  (Age 65 years)
  Mother	Nettekoven, Della E.,   b. 8 Jan 1903, Harrison, Calumet, Wisconsin, USA ,   d. 28 Nov 1992, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  (Age 89 years)
  Family ID	F23554	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Heimann, Edward,   d. Abt 1967
  Married	9 Oct 1943
  Children	1. Heimann, Robert   2. Heimann, Jeanne
  Last Modified	1 Nov 2011
  Family ID	F63678	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	VanStraten, Glenn Peter,   b. 16 Apr 1906, Shiocton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA ,   d. 20 Feb 1993, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  (Age 86 years)
  Married	27 Mar 1976
  Marriage Record (Family)	27 Mar 1976
  Name:Glen P Vanstralen Estimated Birth Year:1907 Age:69 Gender:M (Male) County of Residence:Outagamie Spouse:Merkes Spouse's Estimated Birth Year:1924 Spouse's Age:52 Spouse's Gender:F (Female) Spouse's County of Residence:Outagamie Marriage Date:27 Mar 1976 Marriage County:Outagamie Certificate Number:004342 Microfilm Roll Number:39
  Last Modified	28 Nov 2011
  Family ID	F63679	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map	Load the map	Born - 4 Jun 1923 - Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA Education - High School - 1941 - Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA Died - 29 Oct 2011 - Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  
  

• Sources

  [S1399] Appleton High School Class of 1941 Clarion Yearbook, (Appleton High School Class of 1941 Clarion Yearbook). 73126 - Appleton High School Class of 1941