Fitschen, Merritt W.

Merritt W. Fitschen, age 87, of Cantrall, died Friday, February 2, 2007 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

He is survived by:

Spouse – Esther of Cantrall Son – Larry (wife Sherry) Fitschen of Cantrall

Five Grandchildren – Larry (wife Karla) Fitschen Jr. – Denise (husband Scott) Edmiston – B.J. (wife Sheila) Fitschen – April (husband Loren) Porter – Craig (wife Mandy) Fitschen Eleven Great-grandchildren

Nieces & Nephews

He is preceded in death by one son Bill Fitschen on November 11, 1999; a great-grandson Elijah Porter on May 22, 2004; and a sister Loretta Arnold on January 22, 1992.

Mr. Fitschen was born on April 25, 1919 in Washburn, Illinois, the son of William F. and Martha Janssen Fitschen.

He married Esther Richardson on October 3, 1942 in Athens, Illinois.

Mr. Fitschen graduated from Athens High School in 1937.

He was a lifetime Dairy Farmer, member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Athens, Holstein Association member, member of the Menard County Farm Bureau, member of the Menard County Zoning Board, a founding Member of the Athens Little League, and Board Member of the Athens School District #213.

Mr. Fitschen was a leader of the Athens 4-H Club, superintendent of the Dairy Show at the Menard County Fair, Trustee for the Athens and Fancy Prairie Fire District, Director of the Diary Herd Improvement Association, Director of Producers Dairy in Springfield, Director of Prairie Farms Dairy in Carlinville, and Secretary for Road District #4 in Menard County.

Visitation will be held at Mott & Henning Funeral Home where friends may call from 4:00 until 8:00 PM on Friday, and where funeral services will be held at on Saturday at 12:30 PM.

Rev. David Bueltmann & Rev. Richard Becker officiating Burial will be at Joel Hall Cemetery in Athens

Memorials can be made to the Van Meter Masonic Lodge #762, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, or Charity of Choice