John G. Merkel IV

John G. Merkel IV, 46, of Wilmington, died Thursday following a courageous and awe-inspiring battle with cancer. He was a lifelong Wilmington resident and a member of Saint Mary Magdalen Church. John was a 1979 graduate of Brandywine High School where he was a wide receiver on the Bulldog's football team. He was also a 1983 graduate of Elon University in N.C. where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and participated in intramural sports. John had been employed by the IAMS pet foods company for the last 12-or-so-years, and previously worked with his father, John "Jack," at John G. Merkel and Sons Medical, Surgical and Laboratory Supplies in Wilmington. He appreciated classic cars and enjoyed attending the Indianapolis 500 as well as other auto sport events. John loved mountain biking at the Brandywine Creek State Park and in Colorado and Utah. He enjoyed snowboarding and skiing with his family, and surfing at the Jersey shore and in the Outer Banks. He also enjoyed coaching his children's soccer and cross-country teams. Following his diagnosis about five years ago, John and his wife, Lisa, threw themselves into fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through Team in Training and marathon running. In addition, they established the John Merkel and Friends Drive for a Cure Golf Tournament to raise money for cancer research. A loving husband, father, and son, John was known for his sharp wit and his enjoyment of practical jokes. Survivors include his wife, Lisa (Hart); two children, his brave and strong namesake, John G. V, and the apple of his eye, his daughter, Kristen; and his mother, Joan, all of Wilmington. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends live their lives in tribute to John, living every day to the fullest.