James Joseph Merkle

Our Brother James Joseph Merkle went to heaven in the early morning hours of April 7, 2023. He was born in Colusa, California July 16, 1950. He was the oldest child of a family of 8 children. He grew up in Maxwell California, Greenfield, California, and King City, California.
Jimmy graduated high school from King City High School in 1968. He loved sports. He played defensive back on the undefeated Mustang Football team at King City High School. They won the championship his senior year. He always claimed that they were the best team to ever play for King City High. He made the All League on the Varsity baseball team playing catcher. He was voted "most shyest" in his Senior year book. He went to Hartnell College, in Salinas California and Cal Poly, in San Luis Obispo, California, where he majored in accounting.
He worked many years in casinos in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, Yakima, Washington, Florida, and New Orleans. He was very adventurous, even working in a fish factory in Alaska one season.
Sports was his passion. He was a huge 49er fan. He loved to play golf and tennis. He dominated the tennis latter in King City many times in the 70's, and was #1 on the tennis team for 10 years in a row. When he played the game he played to win. He also played softball in King City with the infamous "Nina's Cantina" softball team. They won the championship 3 years in a row.
He retired, and lived in Paso Robles, California for many years and worked part time at J-Lhor Winery and part time at the A.M & P.M Mini Market.
In the final year and two months of his life he moved to his youngest sister's horse ranch in Aledo, Texas, where he lived and worked part time as the night manager on the horse ranch which he enjoyed. Jimmy loved to grow vegetable gardens, play chess, cards, and backgammon, and go see lots of movies, and spend lots of time with his family. He loved his family and friends a lot.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Merkle (July 9,1997) his sister Susan Merkle Lopez (October 25,1997) his mother Wanda Tognetti (February 2, 2003) step father Elmer Tognetti (March 30, 2014) his father Joe Merkle (May 27, 2019) his step mother Gracie Merkle (October 13, 2020).
He is survived by his sister, Karen (Dale) Borzini, brother Bob Merkle, sister Kathryn "Tina" (Rick) Machak, brother Jose (Carmen) Merkle, sister Sandra (Philippe) Nicolay, and many nieces and nephews, Denise, Doug, Taryn Borzini, Andrea, (Mark), Collin, Quinn Lopez-Villanueva, Lindsey Merkle, Leslie Merkle, Ophelia and Victor Aracely, Amanda and Alberto, Elsie and Martin, Guadalupe and Caesar Delia, Joane Merkle, and Diana Merkle. Godchild Elizabeth Nicolay, and niece Alexandra Nicolay. And his cat Jack...Meow!
James Joseph Merkle was a very sweet, kind, humble, loving, Son, brother, and Uncle.
You will be very missed. May you rest in peace dear brother. By God's grace we will see you again. RIP.
We Love You!
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 1pm, Sunday, October 22, 2023 at Eddington Funeral Chapel.
For more information, please contact Eddington Funeral Services, 429 Bassett St., King City, (831) 385-5400, www.EFS-Cares.com.