Dr. Merle Lane

Dr. Arthur Merle Lane Jr., 89, died December 13, 2022 at the Manor House in Sigourney.  Merle was born October 16, 1933 in Quincy, Illinois.  He was the son of Merle. Sr. and Doris Adele (Chambers) Lane.  He graduated from Bowen, Ill. High School in 1951.  He attended Wester Illinois State College and graduated from Iowa State Veterinary College with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1957.  On December 18, 1955 he married Patricia Gabel of Carthage, Illinois.

Dr. Lane practiced veterinary medicine for 38 years in Sigourney, IA.  Retiring in 1995.  Later he assisted other veterinarians and did relief work.  After retirement he went to Haiti with the Christian Veterinary Medical Organization to aid the farmers there.  He was a former member of the Jaycees and a 50 year member of the Sigourney Kiwanis.  He was a former Cub master.  He was a member of the Sigourney United Methodist Church serving on the Administrative Board for many years.  He served on the Keokuk County Expo Board for over 20 years and also of the Sigourney School Board.

He and his wife were avid square dancers and enjoyed riding their tandem bike including a bike ride in the Alps in Switzerland and riding RAGBRAI several times.  He enjoyed cross country skiing having raced in the 54 kilometer American Berkinbiner in Hayward, Wisconsin 11 times.  Merle also enjoyed building model railroad sets.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three uncles, and three aunts.

He is survived by his wife Pat Lane of Sigourney, three sons Kevin (Sandy) of Eureka, CA; Rick (Kathy) of St Chales, MN; and Mike (Dina) of Hartford, WI; 7 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sister Linda Drummond of West Point, IL; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sigourney United Methodist Church or the Sigourney Kiwanis Scholarship Fund.