Merrill Pol, 71, passed Apr. 18, 2024. Funeral service was at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Apr. 22, at Federated Church, Pella. Memorials have been designated for Wesley Life Hospice, Mobility Worldwide IA (P.E.T.) - Leighton, and Federated Fellowship Church, Pella.
Merrill Lee Pol, the oldest of five children, was born to Marion and Alberta (Terpstra) Pol on Jan. 6, 1953, in Oskaloosa. Merrill attended school in Otley and Pella and graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1971.
June 12, 1974, he was united in marriage to Lana Geetings in Pella. To this union they were blessed with two children, Timothy Wayne and Tiffany Kaye.
Merrill worked at their family farm as well as custom combining. He later worked for Sully Co-op and started farming in June 1974 in Ewart. It was a hard year for farmers, and Jan. 1, 1975, he started working for Geetings, which was Lana’s family business. He worked as a heavy machine operator, spotter driver, dispatcher, and truck driver. In 2022, Merrill retired, and they moved into a second home in Florida where he loved sharing their home with family, friends, and employees. He loved showing people the sites around the Tampa area. He was soon known as “the Best Cabana Boy Ever.”
Merrill, Lana, and the family enjoyed many hobbies throughout their nearly 50 years of marriage. These hobbies included snowmobiles, horses, mini-cup racing, remote control racing, theater, bowling, and golfing. Merrill was especially fond of animals and had many critters that became pets throughout his life, including pet raccoons. Even near his passing, he was happy to see his teddy bear puppy, his “little buddy” Rocky.
Merrill loved his children and grandchildren and always gave them a nickname and a hard time.
Merrill was diagnosed in February with pancreatic cancer that had metastasized to his liver and potentially beyond. One round of chemo landed him in the hospital where he chose not to continue treatment and to enjoy the time he had left.
Merrill and Lana put their Florida home on the market and came back to their new home in Pleasant Hill.
Merrill was a quiet guy, which earned him the nickname “Mouse.” He was quiet, but could always make people smile with his off-the-wall sense of humor and ornery grin. To know him was to love him.
Merrill is survived by his wife of 49 years Lana; and their family: Tim (Jodi) Pol and Tiffany (Jeff) Van Zante; seven grandchildren; his sisters Marla (Kevin) Renaud, Karla (the late Craig) Vander Wert, Janice (Steve) De Graaf, and Malinda Pol; sister-in-law Beverly (Gary) Headrick; brothers-in-law Ronald (Karen) Geetings, Donald (Ginny) Geetings, and Larry (Jennie) Geetings; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Merrill was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Wayne and Jennie (Van Dyk) Geetings, and brother-in-law Craig Vander Wert.
