Merl Kardatzke

Merl Lynn Kardatzke, age 87, was born on August 17, 1936 in Elmore, Ohio, the first child of Arlin and Ruth Kardatzke. Merl passed away peacefully on July 20, 2024 in Spring Green, Wisconsin. His life of deep Christian faith was rooted in his upbringing in the Church of God reformation movement and expressed in his life of humbleness and loving care for all. Merl met the love of his life Joan Larmour in 1954 while they were both attending Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana. They were married in Birkenhead, England by her father, the Reverend John Larmour at the Church of God on Egan Road in 1957 and returned to America to start their new lives together. In 1959 they moved to the south side of Chicago where Merl entered graduate school studying mathematics at the University of Chicago as a Woodrow Wilson Scholarship recipient. Merl was always involved with the Church of God which informed his active political life. He opposed segregation and racism, worked with Operation Breadbasket and otherwise helped those in need. Merl was a statistician involved in a variety of medical and scientific projects. His workplaces at the University of Chicago campus and the adjacent Museum of Science and Industry building provided exciting opportunities for his children and their friends to explore. His great passions included participation in gatherings with the church communities, singing, travel, photography, and reveling in the many ways that the glory of God is expressed in scripture and the very fabric of our world and the stars above. His children all have many stories of trips to the mountains in the western states and the Lake District in the northwest of England. In retirement Merl and Joan relocated to Ohio, to the land by the pond where he grew up. They enjoyed building a home and many years of hosting gatherings on the family property, fellowshipping with the local church families, and taking frequent trips with their grown children and grandchildren. Merl is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Owen Kardatzke and sister-in-law Darlene Kardatzke. Merl is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joan and their four loving children and their families: Frederick Kardatzke and wife Joan Jaeger and their son Jonathan. David Kardatzke and wife Sarah Dorrance and their sons Emery (Lindsey), Cyrus (Kenia) and four grandchildren. Paul Kardatzke and wife Julie and their twin sons James and Christopher. Sally Walton (ne’e Kardatzke) and her husband

Lloyd Walton. He is also survived by his other siblings: Nyle Kardatzke (late wife Darlene), Sharon Benefield (Kenneth), Larry Kardatzke (Norma), and Annette Foudy (Ronald). He will also be missed by the many nieces, nephews and cousins in America, Britain and Wales who enjoyed his hospitality and joy at exploring with a hike and well provisioned picnic. The family would like to thank The Meadows Assisted Living & Memory Care staff and Agrace Hospice for their kind and loving care of Merl. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024 at the Spring Green Community Church; 151 E Bossard St, Spring Green, WI 53588 at 10:30 A.M. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 A.M. until the time of Service. A Luncheon will follow the service. The family asks that in lieu of flowers any donations in memory of Merl Kardatzke be directed to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Research Foundation (komen.org) or The Arc: Autism Initiative (donate.thearc.org). Online condolences available at any www.staffordfuneralhomes.com

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