Obituary: Merkel, Kenneth Harold “Ken”
Age 79
He was born on June 26, 1935, in Spokane, WA to Harold B. and Myrtle (Schirr) Merkel and lived on the ranch in Edwall, WA as a small child.
Ken graduated from Lewis and Clark High School and attended Kinman Business College.
He was married to Barbara J.
White on February 18, 1956, and they spent 59 years together.
Ken served on the Spokane Youth Sport Association Board, Great Spokane Sports Association as President and Board member, Sports Writers and Broadcasters, Spokane Sports Award Banquet Committee, State B-Basketball, Inland Empire Hall of Fame Committee and was inducted into the Sports Scroll of Honor October 16, 1991.
He was a member of the National Association of Credit Managers, serving on the Local and National Boards.
He loved sports, traveling and spent summers as a young man working on his aunt and uncle’s ranch in Sprague, WA.
Ken is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter Kenalynn Merkel of Spokane, WA; granddaughter Nicole Merkel of Fox Island, WA and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his son Wendell Merkel, parents, sister, brother, aunt and uncles.
A Committal Service will take place on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 1:00 pm at the Rose Circle, inside Riverside Memorial Park.
Open House to honor him after the service will be held at their home from 2pm - 6pm.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ronald McDonald House, 1015 W 5th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204 and Vanessa Behan Nursery, 1004 E 8th Ave, Spokane, WA 99202, or a charity of your choice.