Merle Meeter

MERLE MEETER VACAVILLE, CA (FORMERLY OF SOUTH HOLLAND, IL) Merle Meeter, age 74, departed this earth to join his beloved Savior and Lord,Jesus Christ, on January 8, 2008. Merle was born in South Holland, IL, graduated as valedictorian from Illiana Christian High School in 1951 and from Calvin College in 1955. He received his M.A. from the University of Michigan in 1959. He taught at Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA for 16 years. In 1978, the family moved to California where Merle taught at Christian Heritage College and did post-grad course work at the University of San Diego. Merle also pursued his love of weight lifting and arm wrestling, training young men (and his daughters and grandson) in arm wrestling. He was considered so knowledgeable about the sport that he became an arm wrestling historian, with monthly articles in Milo and Armsport magazines as he covered the many tournaments in the United States. Merle's passion in life was to spread the Word of God to others through his writings, poetry, short stories and novels. His many stories and articles were published in Christian publications through the years. His major work, The Country of the Risen King was published by Baker Publishing Co. Merle is survived by his faithful wife, Gloria; six children: Gregory (Lorelei) Meeter, Rob (Janelle) Meeter, Cynthia James, Sheri (Brent) Dragoo, Sally (David) Price and Mary (Ben) Mwangi; 15 grandchildren; one step-great granddaughter; sisters: Cecelia (Andy) Rietveld, Nancy (Phil) Piersma; and brother, Wayne Meeter. A celebration of Merle's life will be held Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the McCune Funeral Home in Vacaville, CA.