GARNER – Merle O. Kluver, 75, of Garner died Sunday (April 13, 2008) at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner with Rev. Jerry Swanberg officiating. Burial will be in Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal Lake with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 P.M., Tuesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services.

Memorials may be directed to the Merle Kluver Memorial Fund.

Merle Orren Kluver, the son of Glen and Eva (McClain) Kluver, was born June 27, 1932 at Crystal Township in Hancock County. He graduated from Crystal Lake High School in 1949. Merle served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from April of 1953 to April of 1955 and was in the reserves from 1955 to 1961. Following his honorable discharge he returned to the Crystal Lake area and farmed. In 1958, he married Karen Brown. To this union four children were born, Bruce, Kevin, Tracy and Toni. The marriage later ended in divorce. In 1976, he established his own trucking business which he operated until October of 2007.

He was a member of the Crystal Lake United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his children, Bruce (Marcia) Kluver of Crystal Lake, Tracy Kluver of Eldridge and Toni Williams of Clear Lake; a daughter-in-law, Victoria Kluver of Lake St. Louis, MO; grandchildren, Brett (Heather) Kluver of Crystal Lake, Amber Kluver of Forest City, Logan and Carson Williams of Clear Lake and Ashley, Amber and Jason Kluver of Lake St. Louis, MO; a brother, Morris (Janice) Kluver of Forest City; two sisters, Eleanor Kluver of Crystal Lake and Glenys (Dale) Bird of McHenry, IL; eight nieces and nephews; and numerous aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Kevin; and a sister, Evelyn Irons.