In loving memory of
Merrill K. Bibens
July 13, 1921 - February 4, 2018
Obituary for Merrill K.Bibens July 13, 1921- February 4, 2018
Merrill K. Bibens,aka Mike was born and raised in Springfield,Vermont.He served in the 2nd World War in the Army Air Corp in the Philippines and Australia.Prior to that he met Josephine Nawratil in Mobile Alabama where they both worked for the army repairing small airplane engine parts.They married in Dec of 1943, then he was shipped out,returning after their baby daughter was 14 months old. He later served in the National Guard and retired from the Army Reserves as a Major.
They moved to Chicago where he got a job with the Sunbeam Corporation and worked up to being head of the model shop and new product development.The family moved 35 miles west of Chicago to Wheaton,Illinois.He retired after 30 years with Sunbeam and continue to1unhis own machine shop. He continued working the model business even after moving to Englewood,Florida,not retiring until in his
80's.
He enjoyed horseback riding,golf,bowling,racing his Austin Healey sports car,deep sea fishing,scuba diving and boating in Cozumel and taking cruises. He was a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club in Englewood,Toastmasters in Wheaton IL,and the Masons while in Varna,Illinois. He belonged to the
Rolls Royce club and often served as a judge for concourse de elegance competitions. He was a member of the Methodist Church in Wheaton Illinois and Englewood Florida where he served as an usher and worked the Pancake breakfasts. He served on the board of directors at the Sea Oats time share in Englewood for many years.
He Is survived by his daughters,Maurine Bibens,Merle (Mickey) Pieterse,sons-in-law Gary Allain and Cornelis Pieterse. Grand children,Kalehli Allain,Joshua Pieterse,Shawn Pieterse,and Donavan Pieterse. Daughters-in-law Heidi Pieterse and Sherri Malouf-Pieterse.Great-grand-children,Shelby Pieterse, Shane Pieterse,Evie Pieterse,Ari Pieterse,Vic Pieterse.Sisters Rachel Bibens Watkins and Elizabeth Bibens Wallace.
He was predeceased by his first wife Josephine Nawratil Bibens,second wife Martha Locke Bibens and fiance Winifred Lechaucer.