Mearl Slate

Mearl B. Slate, 89, of Marshalltown, died October 26, 2009, at Southridge Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2009, at First Presbyterian Church, 101 South Center Street in Marshalltown. Burial will be in Badger Hill Cemetery in Gladbrook. Memorials may be directed to the family. Visitation will be on Friday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Mearl and his family. Ph 641-844-1234. Mearl Bruce Slate was born on July 7, 1920, at Wright, Iowa in Mahaska County. He was the son of Herman and Edith (Hawley) Slate. He attended school in the area of his birth.Mearl worked as a supervisor for Chicago Northwestern Railroad. He then served our country honorably in the United States Navy from 1941-1947, being wounded twice and receiving two Purple Hearts. After his military service, he returned to work for Chicago Northwestern Railroad. On July 29, 1948, Mearl married Esther Frericks at Evangelical United Brethren Church in Gladbrook, Iowa. The couple lived in Toledo, Cedar Rapids, and Marshalltown. Mearl was a member of CNW retirees, Disabled Veterans, American Legion, VFW, and First Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed helping his nieces and nephews, hunting and teaching hunter safety while they were at the Izaak Walton league, playing cards and dominoes, and playing pool. He loved to talk about the war years and loved to tell stories. Mearl will be missed by his wife, Esther; his brother, Glenn Slate of Marshalltown; his sister, June Haack of Gladbrook; and several nieces and nephews. In death, he has rejoined his parents and his children, Gary, Sheila, and Brenda.