Services for Mr. Merritt will be 11 a.m. Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Moline. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 201 E. 4th Ave., Milan. Burial will be at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be conducted. Memorials may be made to the family.

Jackie Dale Merritt was born on Aug. 10, 1936, in Detroit, Mich., a son of Leo Merritt and Mary Hodges Merritt. He married Anna Davison on Dec. 6, 1969, in Rock Island.

Jackie worked as a maintenance welder for the McLaughlin Body Co., Moline, for over 30 years, retiring in 1998. His memberships included Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Moline, Milan American Legion, Post No. 569/200 and the Three Lakes Sportsman's Club in Victoria, Ill. Jackie enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving in the 101st Airborne Division.

Survivors include his wife, Anna; children, Patricia (Andy) Carlson, Cincinnati, Ohio, Jackie Merritt, Moline, Terry Tucker, New Hampton, Iowa, Theresa (Larry) Hepner, Moline, Michael (Debbie) Zemo, Geneseo, Mary (Jim) Johnson, Colona, and Steve (Becky) Zemo, East Moline; 24 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Jackie was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mary Lee Erickson; and a brother, Elmo Merritt.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.wheelanpressly.com.