to provide for his family. Much of his adult life centered around trucks. From driving and delivering to owning and operating, through tearing apart and rebuilding, he spent countless hours down at the shop. He loved every minute of it. Merle always looked to family gatherings, enjoying any opportunity to shoot the breeze. His favorite past time included sitting back in his chair, watching baseball (often several games at a time) cheering and/or cussing out the Twinkies, all the while, chewing his cigar. "Gramps" always liked to tease and appreciated a good joke. Many memories that continue to make us chuckle include the times he had Gran sew the boys' pant legs closed while they slept and his infamous gas-passing machine. He loved playing with his dogs; Tasha, Jr., Shadow and Teeny. He was very proud of his family heritage "those moon shiners from Tennessee" and often liked to tell the tale of "The Crime of The Century". Although he will be sadly missed, we are certain that he is now reunited with the love of his life, Marian. Left to cherish his memory are his nine children, Merle John Jr. (Violet) Gouge of Garner, Peter (Joan) Gouge of Garner, Rebeccah Linahon of Redmond, Oregon, Michael (Judy) Gouge of Britt, Julian Pigman (Gary) of Crystal Lake, Steve (Mary) Gouge of Garner, Laura (Ted) Salz of Garner, Lois Ziron (Greg) of Garner, and David (Theresa) Gouge of Ames; twenty-seven grandchildren; thirty great grandchildren; brothers-in-law, William (Ernestine) Haag and Harold (Judy) Haag; sister-in-law, Adele Shimmon; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian; his parents; brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold (Pauline) Gouge, David Jr. (Alice) Gouge, Bill (Helen) Gouge, Robert Gouge, Richard Gouge, Marilyn Gouge, Elizabeth Butler and Loren Dean Gouge; sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathryn Brass, Betty (Albert, Jr.) Mefford and Lowell Shimmon; sons-in-law, Duane Pigman and Timothy Wurtzel; and a nephew, Benjamin Shimmon.