Obituaries Merchant, Robert LeRoy Nov. 10, 1927-June 9, 2016
After a courageous battle with multiple myeloma, Robert “Bob” Merchant, 88, died in the early morning hours of June 9, 2016, with family by his side.
Born Nov. 10, 1927, in Wahpeton, North Dakota, to parents Besse Pease Merchant and Roy Milton Merchant, he grew up and graduated from high school there. He attended North Dakota State School (now College) of Science in Wahpeton until he turned 18 and then enlisted in the Army during World War II.
After his honorable discharge he attended the University of North Dakota where he met his future wife, Constance “Connie” Alander. They were married on Nov. 13, 1949, in Warren, Minnesota. Their daughter Cathy was born in 1950 while they lived in Grand Forks, when Bob was working for J.C. Penney Co. in the management training program while attending school.
They later moved to Marquette, Michigan, where son Rick was born in 1954. Bob then accepted a job offer to help manage the J.M. McDonald Co. department store in Bozeman, Montana, and a year later transferred as a store manager to Lewistown, Montana, where their sons Christopher (1963) and Corey (1965) were born.
They later moved to Colorado and Kansas where Bob had the opportunity to manage larger department stores in malls. In 1982 Bob returned to Montana to manage the C.R. Anthony Co. department store in Great Falls. While in Great Falls, Connie passed away from lung cancer on Oct. 28, 1988.
For many years Bob worked in the retail sector, managing department stores and winning numerous awards for his hard work and creative innovations for selling, marketing and providing exceptional customer service.
He was voted Mall Merchant of the Year while in Kansas, and had a personal record of 26 consecutive years of producing net profit as a store manager.
He belonged to numerous organizations and Chambers of Commerce. He served on numerous boards of directors, held officer positions, and was a deputy district governor while a member of the Lions Club. He was the treasurer of the Fergus County Republican Central Committee and a delegate to state Republican conventions. He helped organize many sporting events throughout the years, and helped secure tournaments. When living in Miles City, he was co-chairman of the committee, which brought Montana’s first state girls basketball all class championship tournament to Miles City. He was a member of the Methodist Church and served on many boards and committees in the church wherever he lived.
At his 45th Wahpeton High School class reunion, Bob got reacquainted with a former classmate, Loretta “Birdie” Novetzke Hatlie, and they married on July 5, 1991, in Mound, Minnesota. With this marriage, Bob gained four more sons – Martin, Norton, Phil and Peter. They lived in Mound on Lake Minnetonka, and Bob worked as a night auditor for The Marsh, an exclusive health club and spa. Bob and Birdie had many friends and were active in their retirement years. Birdie passed away from cancer on Aug. 1, 2010.
In the spring of 2011 Bob bought a condo in Leisure World retirement community in Seal Beach, California, to be closer to family and resided there until his passing at the VA Long Beach Healthcare Center. The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the doctors and staff of the VA Long Beach Medical Center for the phenomenal care given to our dad.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Carroll M. Merchant, his sisters Mary Jo Olbrich and Betty L. Ahnger, his son, Rick; and his wives Connie and Birdie.
He is survived by his daughter Cathy Shenkle and son-in-law Doug, and their children Robert (Hillary) Shenkle and their children Madelyn and Wyatt, and Angela (Trever) Kirkland and their son Derrick; son Christopher Merchant and daughter-in-law Terri, and their children Rick and Mikayla; and son Corey Merchant and daughter-in-law Teresa, and their children Connor, Katherine and Jessica; his daughter-in-law (son Rick’s wife at the time of his death) Hania (Lysecki) (Joe) Apkin and their children Sarah and Alex; and his step-sons Martin (Chuck) Hatlie; Norton (Kathy) Hatlie and their children Ann and Katie; Phil (Sue Allers) Hatlie and their children Jesse and Jacob; and Peter (Barbara Roggema) Hatlie and their children Iola and Rosa.
Dad, aka Grandpa Bob, aka Grandpa Merch, was a man of faith and family. He had a strong work ethic, which he passed down to all of his children. He was a man of integrity and character, well respected and loved, and was so very proud of all his family. He was a sports enthusiast, a proud member of the UND Fighting Sioux in Grand Forks, and loved his Broncos.
At the time of his death, Bob was an active member of the Leisure World Community Church.
A memorial service will be held at the Leisure World Community Church, 1400 Church Place, Seal Beach, CA, 90740, on Saturday, July 30, at 10 a.m.
He will be buried next to his first wife, Connie, in Great Falls, Montana, at a later date.
Memorials may be given to FCOPI.org; The American Legion (www.legion.org); the Community Church Leisure World, 14000 Church Place, Seal Beach, CA, 90740; to Bethel United Methodist Church, 2116 Commerce Blvd., Mound, MN, 55364; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
—paid obituary
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Maciel, Mary T.
1932 -2016
Mary T. Maciel passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 2, 2016, in Norman, Oklahoma. She fought a long a courageous battle with dementia.
Mary was born to the late Mike and Diolinda Maciel of Modesto, California. She grew up on the family’s farm where she developed a strong work ethic and love of animals.
She moved to Leisure World in 1997 and lived there for 16 years. She lived in Mutual 5 where she was building captain for several years.
She was a parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Parish. She loved it there and made many great friends.
Mary entered the Marine Corps in 1951, serving during the Korean War. She was quickly promoted to sergeant, but left the military in 1955 to marry and start a family.
She worked as a travel agent in the 1980s and 90s allowing her to fulfill her passion for travel. She traveled the entire U.S. and much of the world.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents and two older brothers.
She is survived by her children, Larry Jr. of Yucca, Arizona; daughter, Robin (Tom) of Mustang, Oklahoma; John (Vonda) of Mustang, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mary requested that there be no funeral service and her ashes be scattered at sea.
Her memory will endure in our hearts and those of the many that knew and loved her. She will be deeply missed.
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Okamoto, Howard Kazuo
1933-2016
A memorial service for Howard Okamoto will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, at the Leisure World Community Church, Pastor Don Roe and Rev. Marvin Harada, Buddhist minister, presiding.
Interment will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 25, at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., March Air Reserve Base, CA, 92518.
He died July 6, 2016.
In lieu of flowers, send donations in Okomoto’s name to ALS Association, Orange County Chapter, 3002 Dow Ave., Unit 204, Tustin, CA, 93780.
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Sargent, Wilfred
1927-2016
A memorial service for Wilfred “Wil” or “Sarge” Sargent, will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 24, at First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St.,Whittier.
After the service there will be a white dove release following by a reception with food and stories.
He passed away on May 15, 2016, in Seal Beach.
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In Memoriam
Marcia Fisher 68
Frances Meshulam 94
Mark Lively 46
Jerry Trent 78
Glenn Squire 92
Stella Barnes 89
Theandrew Clayborn 32
Edward Sheldon 68
Lillian Salerno 93
Glen Shannon 89
Howard Okamoto 82
Patrick O’Farrell 70
George Bolton 78
Alejandro Diaz 43
Alice Anderson 93
Families assisted by
McKenzie Mortuary,
961-9301
—paid obituary