Robert Bruce (Bob) Merkle peacefully passed away on July 13, 2026, in his Altoona home, where he had remained throughout his 2 ½ year cancer journey.

Bob began life in rural Coin, Iowa, as one of 5 children of Melvin and Laurel (Hatch) Merkle. He attended Coin High School, followed by 4 years at NW Missouri State College, Maryville Missouri, (now NW Missouri University.) In 1970, he received a Master of Science in Education degree from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.

In 1956 Bob married Beverly Ann Johnston, also a former Coin "Tiger". In the following years, the couple was blessed with 5 children as Bob taught/coached at the now disbanded ACL schools, Allerton, Iowa, for 2 years; East Union Schools, Afton, Iowa, for 4 years; and lastly, at Southeast Polk Schools, Altoona-Mitchellville-Runnells, Iowa, for 31 years, having coached there for 23 of those years. The family remained in the area after his retirement.

At various times throughout his career Bob taught industrial arts, P. E. and/or driver's training while coaching several sports. The highlight of his coaching career came in 1977 at SEP. At that time, he was fortunate to have the 2 best Partner Coaches in Iowa......Gary Fry and Lois Stufflick Johnson. Together the coaching trio and their 6-ON-6 Rams brought the lowa High School Girls State Basketball Tournament Championship to central Iowa by winning the all-one-class 494 team 1st place trophy (52 inches tall!) in the thrilling championship game. That year, for the first time ever, the final game was available to a TV audience nationwide.

The team, coaches, and Ram fans were living a dream.... The whole community was wild with excitement. The State of Iowa House of Representatives of the 76th General Assembly, 1977 second session, adopted and certified a resolution congratulating SEP for their "utmost in spirit and teamwork." They further commended the team for their "sportsmanship, fair play and athletic prowess." It is believed that a video of the game is still available on YouTube.com by typing in "1977 IGHSAU STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEP POLK VS CR KENNEDY".

Team members and coaches received congratulatory letters & telegrams from all around the country. Locally, they were honored with gifts of jewelry, beautiful flowers, special dinners and many other occasions of recognition. A small truckload of the following day's edition of the DM Sunday Register quietly and mysteriously showed up in the Merkle driveway during the night. Bob was named Coach of the Year by the Athletic News Publication, and also the Kellogg's Coach of the Year.

A favorite family activity for Bob, Beverly and the kids was travel-camping through the USA during breaks from his summer employment at Adventureland. Later he and his wife became international travelers with the Friendship Force of Greater Des Moines and traveled abroad extensively for several years.

Bob enjoyed singing throughout his life, early on with his 4 siblings as a quintette, performing in many churches in SW Iowa, and a couple of times in Altoona, as well as at special community events. Later as the families expanded, they became the "Merkle Family Circle" which included some very young Merkles, Years later Bob sang with the local Pride of Iowa Barbershop Chorus. He was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church where he was a part of the choir at the former Altoona United Methodist Church for many years.

Left to mourn him are his wife Beverly, and their children, Scott (Cathy) of Ankeny, Iowa; Vicki Merkle (Tim Meyer) of Altoona Iowa, Jerry (Tracy) of Altoona, Iowa, daughter-in-law Jill of Des Moines, Iowa, and son-in-law Randy Nelson of Altoona, Iowa.

Other survivors include brother Richard Merkle of Oakland, Iowa; also, Tim's 3 sons, Dylan Meyer (Torrie) of Bonner Springs, Kansas, Alex Meyer (Mariah Jessen) of Omaha, and Jacob Meyer (Grace Soupiset & daughter Maizsee) of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Grandchildren include Cody Nelson (Lacey) of Runnells, Iowa: Chris Merkle (Laurel): Jon Merkle (Lisa) of Des Moines, Iowa, Ben Merkle (Sarah) of Knoxville, Iowa, Emily Merkle Townsend (Keaton) of Port Byron, Illinois, Amanda Lynn Merkle of Altoona, Iowa, and Robbie Merkle (Nickie), of Van Meter, Iowa. In addition, he has 11 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Dearly beloved daughter Lauri Ann (Merkle) Nelson and precious granddaughter Cara Ann Nelson, as well as his parents and 3 of his siblings await him in Heaven as does treasured son, Jack Jay Merkle, who was laid to rest 5-1-26 after a 5-month cancer battle.

The family would like to thank Dr. Laura, Unity Point, Altoona; Dr. Elhadadd and his team at Mission Cancer and Blood, Unity Point Home Care; and Unity Point Home Hospice for the good care they provided Bob during his illness.

Bob specifically asked that there be no public services. Therefore, the family is honoring his request by planning only a small, private graveside service at a later date, a video of which will eventually be available on the obit site.

In view of the many generous monetary and floral memorials on the occasion of recent family deaths, the family is requesting that friends and loved ones forgo those 2 types of memorials, (which they have appreciated in the past) and instead, help create a memory booklet for the benefit of Bob's present and future descendants. It will let them get to know their much-loved G'pa Bob even though they may never have gotten to meet him. They are inviting people of all ages, including friends, relatives, kids, SEP fans, etc., who are kind enough to help in that endeavor, to please write a note sharing a few memories of Bob as they knew him. They know there are some good stories out there and would really like to hear them.

The family will very much appreciate a written note for the Bob Merkle Memory booklet. For those kind enough to take part, please send to Coburn Funeral Homes by either email (Noah@CoburnFuneralHomes.com) or by postal mail to the following address, Attention: Bob Merkle Family, Coburn Funeral Homes, 24 West Howard Street, Colfax, Iowa 50054.