Merle Borkowski, 77, of Elliott, Iowa, died Saturday morning September 15, 2007, at his home northwest of Elliott after suffering from numerous health problems over the summer.

Merle Edward Borkowski was born on September 22, 1929, in Carroll County near Manning, Iowa, the son of Leroy and Julia (Friedrichsen) Borkowski. He attended rural schools and attended high school at Irwin, Iowa. He joined the Navy and served his country during the Korean Conflict where he was part of two landings. Returning home, he attended the Omaha School for Business and studied telegraphy. He worked for Standard Oil, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and also for a short time the Union Pacific Railroad. On June 9, 1957, he married Virginia Mae Core at the Elliott Church of Christ in Elliott. The lived in the Coon Rapids and Panora area and Merle worked in the construction business as a heavy equipment operator. He and Virginia started farming in the Pilot Grove area in 1960, later moving to a farm northwest of Griswold and then moved to their present farm in 1965. Merle started raising purebred registered Angus cattle in 1963 and continued in the cattle business until his death. After retirement from row crop farming, Merle drove school bus for the Griswold Community Schools. Merle was a member of the Elliott Church of Christ, served as a Sunday school teacher, an elder and was on the board of trustees. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the American Angus Association. Merle enjoyed playing cards, visiting with his family and friends and had a daily ritual of going about. He never met a stranger.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Virginia of Elliott, his sons and grandchildren, David and his wife Kimberly and their children Wyatt Andrew and Alyssa Mae of Indianola, Iowa, and Douglas of Ames, Iowa. Also surviving are his brothers Raymond and his wife Barbara of Forest City, Iowa, Laverne of Cherokee, Iowa, and Russell and his wife Barbara of Climbing Hill, Iowa, and his sister-in-law Loretta Borkowski of Sanford, North Carolina.

His parents, a brother Allen and a sister Florence Fister preceded Merle in death.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. at the Elliott Church of Christ in Elliott. Burial with Military Honors will be at the Waveland Township Cemetery. Open visitation will be at the Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold and the family will be present from 6:30 to 8:00 Tuesday evening.