GREAT BEND – Merlyn Stoecklein, 78, passed away on July 7, 2015 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb., after a short illness. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.
Merlyn was born on Oct. 12, 1936 to John and Lucille (Anderson) Fischer at St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend. She graduated from Great Bend High School and attended Adele Hale Business School in Hutchinson.
On Aug. 20, 1960, she married Jerry Stoecklein at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend.
She was employed as the secretary/bookkeeper at Stickney Coors Distributing in Great Bend, from 1979 until the business was sold in 2012.
Merlyn enjoyed cooking, gardening, traveling, shopping, dancing, playing cards, spending time with others and her pets.
She was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, the Altar Society, Golden Belt Community Concert Association, a former Cub Scout leader and a grand-friend at Holy Family School.
Immediate survivors include her husband, Jerry, of the home; two sons, Karl Stoecklein, Houston, Texas; and Alan Stoecklein, rural Olmitz, Kan.; a sister, JoAnn Simpson, Great Bend; and a brother, Stephen Fischer and wife, Nancy, Martinez, Calif.
The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home. The family requests those attending to please dress casual. Father Ted Stoecklein will officiate. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery.
Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Great Bend Humane Society, in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Homes **
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS, 67530
Great Bend Tribune, July 8, 2015