Merle Dumdei, age 96 of Carnarvon, IA, passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at his home in Carnarvon. Merle Wayne Dumdei was born on July 7, 1925, to parents Albert and Thelma (Shaw) Dumdei in Boyer, IA. Merle later became a member of the Carnarvon Presbyterian Church and taught Sunday school and was an Elder and Trustee.
Merle attended country school and graduated from Deloit High School with the class of 1941 at the age of 16. On September 26, 1943, Merle enlisted to serve his country in the United States Navy. He earned the rank of Radioman 3rd Class with special honors aboard the USS Richard P. Leary, which participated in some of the fiercest battles in the Pacific and earned 7 battle stars. He was honorably discharged on April 3, 1946. In later years, Merle attended many USS Richard P. Leary reunions and maintained close relationships with many of his shipmates.
On August 17, 1949, Merle was united in marriage to Beverly Argotsinger in Deloit, IA. This union was blessed with five children: Diana, Roger, Daniel, Don, and Sharon. Merle worked many jobs throughout his life beginning as a paperboy as a young child. He was able to save his money and assist his parents with the down payment on their home. He worked on the Illinois Central Railroad, owned the Carnarvon grocery, and was the Post Master of Carnarvon.
Merle was very involved within his community. He was a school board member for Wall Lake Schools for many years and later served on the Twilight Acres Board. He was instrumental in the establishment of the nursing home and was very generous with his grocery store. In his free time, you could find Merle watching the St. Louis Cardinals, the Hawkeyes, and the Cyclones. Merle was a loving and devoted husband and father, who cherished his family and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed gardening and raised his own flowers in a nursery in the basement. He built a beautiful flower garden just for Beverly to look at. He and Beverly also enjoyed traveling and going to Arizona for the winters.
Those left to cherish his memory include his children: Diana and husband Arthur Rowe of Bettendorf, IA, Don and wife Sue of Waukee, IA, and Sharon of Ames, IA; his sisters-in-law Janet Dumdei of Manilla, IA, Vera Talcott of Omaha, NE; brother-in-law Wendell Argotsinger of Denison, IA; grandchildren: Jennifer O’Neill, Kerry (Brandon) Goldsberry, Aaron (Christina) Shay, Christopher (Lisa) Dumdei, Nathan Dumdei, Sarah (Chad) West, Katie (Jayson) Gunn, and Ryan Lenihan; great-grandchildren: Maddox and Clara Goldsberry; Quinlan Shay; Tyler and Ashlynn Dumdei; Addyson, Aiden, and Avery Gunn; and Katherine, and Samantha West; many extended family members and friends.
Merle was preceded in death by his wife Beverly Dumdei; parents; two sons: Roger and Daniel Dumdei; granddaughter Marjorie O’Neill; Brothers Mervin and Wesley Dumdei; Sister Arvis Taylor
