Venita Merk

Venita Viola Miller Merk, the daughter of Leslie (Bo) and Bertha (Ward) Miller, was born May 11, 1936, in Fremont County, Iowa, and died September 21, 2025, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 89 years, 4 months, and 10 days.

Venita was baptized at the Methodist Church in Sidney, Iowa on April 9th, 1947. She attended Sidney Elementary then graduated from the Sidney High School in 1954. She attended Commercial Extension School in Omaha, Nebraska for business.

On March 17, 1957, she was united in marriage to Norman Merk at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Ross, Iowa. They moved to a 240-acre farm north of the family homestead, where they built a new home, steadily adding buildings and acreage--along with being blessed with three daughters Colleen, Cyndi, and Lori. They started out raising 200 chickens and farrowing hogs, feeding 150-200 head of cattle, and milking 8-10 head of dairy cows, plus row crops. Over time, they specialized in growing corn, finishing 1000 head of feeder cattle a year, plus feeding and marketing 1000-1200 hogs. Venita and Norman enjoyed traveling and watching the northern lights. Venita always had a huge garden, and canned and froze vegetables and fruit for a number of years. Her interests included landscape painting, sewing, antiquing, interior design, and caligraphy worthy of the Declaration of Independence. She created numerous porcelain dolls, kiln fired and hand painted them, designed and hand sewed their clothing. She won many ribbons at the Iowa State Fair, including Best of Show several times. She was always active, going skydiving at age 82. She was the epitome of a sweet little old lady--until you played UNO with her.

Venita was a member of the First Baptist Church in Brayton, Iowa. Previously, she served as church secretary at Ross Cavalry United Methodist Church, and served on numerous committees, Bible study groups, and supported many charities. Her fervent wish was that everyone came to know Jesus as Savior. She always answered the phone with "good morning (or good evening), God loves you."

Preceding her in death were her husband of 60 years, Norman Merk; her parents Leslie (Bo) and Bertha; her brothers: Charles and Rex Hooton.

Survivors include her daughters: Colleen and husband Donald OBrien of Spearfish, South Dakota; Cyndi and husband Edward Brett and daughter Katie of Sebastian, Florida; Lori and husband Aaron Petersen and daughters Alisha and Alayna, son Alex, all of Audubon; her sister Judith Miller of Audubon; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon, IA, with Pastor Patti Burket officiating the service. A visitation with the family will be held one hour before the funeral. Interment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon.