Kenneth Douglas Merrill, 81, of Anamosa, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family.

Private funeral services will be held for the family. Interment will be at Wayne Zion Cemetery in rural Monticello. The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa.

Ken was born July 11, 1945, in Monticello, the son of Delbert and Wilma (Covington) Merrill. He attended school in Anamosa and graduated from Anamosa High School in 1963. Ken proudly served his country in the United States Army from July 24, 1963, to May 19, 1966, including being stationed in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966.

On June 22, 1973, Ken was united in marriage to Evelyn Siebels in Anamosa. The couple moved to Chicago and returned to Anamosa in 1982. Ken owned and operated his own siding contracting company, Merrill Construction. In December 1980, Ken joined the Navy Reserves, where he served until December 1989.

Ken was an avid fisherman and cherished the time he spent outdoors with a fishing pole in hand. He told the best dad jokes and loved laughing with you as he told them. He was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs and never missed an opportunity to talk sports, whether celebrating the good times or commiserating over the not-so-good ones. He also proudly followed Iowa football. Ken loved the simple pleasures in life—coffee, cooking, and watching and feeding the birds around his home. He found joy in these everyday moments and in sharing them with the people he loved.

Perhaps one of Ken’s greatest gifts was his devotion to others. He devoted 39 years of his life to foster parenting and served as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician with the Anamosa Ambulance Service, where he also served as president.

Ken will be remembered as a funny, kind, and generous man who loved spending time with his family and friends. His warmth, humor, creativity, and generosity touched so many people and will be deeply missed.

Ken is survived by his wife of 53 years, Evelyn; his children, Wayne, Cory (Shawna), Kendy (Matt), Michael (Barbara), Patrick (Angela), Kayla, Nathan, Devonte, Aliya, Ellie, Dalton, Zac, Andy, Jake, Liam, and Max; his grandchildren, Alex, Will, Bryce, Mikal, Victoria, Hen, Elijah, Emerson, Jett, Adanna, and Micah; his great-grandchildren, AJ, Emma, and Georgia; and his siblings, Jerry (Jan), Marilyn, and Dave.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Delbert and Wilma Merrill.