Merle Lee File, the son of John Henry and Lenore Elmira (Aurand) File, was born on August 26, 1928 in rural Jewell County, Kansas. He passed away on August 22, 2010 at Brodstone Memorial Hospital in Superior, Nebraska at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 22 days.

Merle’s early years were spent on the family farm. He attended Sinclair County Grade School and graduated from Lovewell High School in 1947.

On November 1, 1951, Merle was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Korea where he served as a Tank Operator and was Commander of the 72nd Division, Tank Battalion. He was released from active service on July 31, 1953, to the Army Reserves to complete his 8 years of service.

On February 9, 1952 he was united in marriage to Joan Faye McElroy in Jeffersonville, Indiana. To this union 5 children were born.

Merle was a member of the Superior Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and served on the Hardy Co-op Board and Rural Water District Board.

Merle farmed his whole life in Jewell and Republic Counties, first with his father, on his own, and then later with his sons.

Merle was a jack-of-all-trades. Not having any money in the early years he learned to do all his own repairs and build whatever he needed. Whether it was a hog shed, kitchen cupboards, or any major repairs, he learned to do it all. For years his daughters relied on dad to fix and repair it; and he always found a way.

Merle worked very hard to give his family a good home. He treated every day as a working day, hauling the kids out to irrigate, gathering eggs from 2,400 chickens, working the field, and tending the hogs. BUT—there was always time for fun. Laying the kids down in the irrigation ditch to plug a hole and then covering them with mud, teaching them to drive on the back roads when their feet couldn’t touch the floor, showing them how to shoot a rifle and laughing when they couldn’t hit a can. One winter he built a 6’ sled that would hold all the kids (Big and Small), which he pulled behind his new Oliver tractor. This activity lasted until one of the sons who was driving turned so tight, the tractor’s front wheels came off.

Many happy times were spent fishing on the river, along with camping and boating at the lake. One thing the family will never forget is the first time Merle took his family camping at the lake. Since we didn’t own a camper, Merle decided to improvise by using his grain truck with a tarp stretched over the top. This would not have been too bad if it were not for the hogs he hauled in it the day before.

Let’s not forget the horse that Merle purchased for his kids. The kids had begged and begged him to buy one but instead of getting a horse that was well broke, he saved money by buying a green broke horse. The kids had a lot of difficulty with the horse. On one occasion, Merle and his brother-in-law Jack thought they would show the kids how easy the horse was to ride. That is when the rodeo began, Merle ended up getting bucked off into the spirea bush and Jack was knocked off when the horse took him under the edge of a roof on an outbuilding.

As a young man, Merle learned to dance at the high school Friday night dances from the sponsor who one day became his mother-in-law. Once he mastered this hidden talent it became one Jody and his favorite activities.

Many orphaned animals found along the road were brought home to be family pets by Merle. Several coons, a coyote and a baby rabbit were part of the changing menagerie. The sudden disappearance of a family pet pig ended up being a tearjerker when all there was to show for him was a paper check.

Merle seldom got mad, or showed his temper. When Mom said, "wait until your Father gets home"—that was great because Dad never did get as mad as Mom. He always felt that by doing wrong, you would learn from your mistake.

Merle was a jokester who loved to pull practical jokes on friends and family. He also liked to tease you using nicknames. He seemed to get into a lot of trouble with his two brother-in-laws for some of their antics like: shooting sparrows at night in the barn with a 22 rifle and the next day having to re-tin the roof; cleaning icy windshields with a board filled with nails, or going to town for milk and not being able to get home in the blizzard. The brother-in-laws fondly called him "Fireball" for reasons that were never told.

Many miles he traveled to attend his grandchildren’s ball games, school activities, graduations and weddings. Somehow those grandchildren, while under his care, always got to do those things he forbid his own children to do! Riding 4 wheelers and starting a water fight was a favorite summer activity with the grandkids. In his later years he especially enjoyed his two small great grandsons…and they enjoyed him…wondering who would get to sit by Grand Dad at dinnertime. He sat in his favorite old chair and watched them "Farm" his living room carpet.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, a son, David John, born July of 1957 and passed away 6 weeks later, and two brothers: Kenneth and infant, Edsel. He is survived by his wife of the home, Jody, four children: Jerry File, Courtland; Debra Foster, (Jim) Mankato; Jim File, (Pat) Courtland; Sharon Kvasnicka (Lane) Andover. Eight Grandchildren: Cody Murray, (Danyelle), Sylvan Grove, Cara Robinson, (Donny), Holton; Chrissie Harris, (Morgan), Beloit; Krista Mooren, Superior; Amanda Reisenweber, (Alex), Manhattan, Justin, Brett, and Tyler Kvasnicka, Andover; and 6 great grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 10:00 AM from the Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel in Superior, Nebraska with Todd Bradrick officiating. Music was "Amazing Grace," and "The Lord’s Prayer," with Amanda Reisenweber as soloist and Carlita Erickson as organist.

Pallbearers were Cody Murray, Donny Robinson, Morgan Harris, Alex Reisenweber, Justin Kvasnicka, and Brett Kvasnicka. Honorary Pallbearers were Tyler Kvasnicka and Brandon Broeckelman.

Interment with Full Military Rites was in the Rosemound Cemetery, So. of Hardy, Nebraska.

Condolences may be sent to Megrue-Price Funeral Home, PO Box 282, Superior, NE 68978 or in care of www.pricefuneralhomes.com

Megrue-Price Funeral Home of Superior, Nebraska was in charge of the arrangements.