Joe Merkle of Paso Robles California  born May 11, 1924 passed away the early morning of May 27 at 95 years of age.

He attended Greenfield Grammar School and Graduated from King City High School in 1942. After graduation he joined the US Air Force to join the war effort in defense of his country. He completed 51 missions over Southern Germany with the 9th Air Force, 34 Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, for which he was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster.

After the war he dreamed of farming and started out his career growing rice in Maxwell and sugar beets in Greenfield California.  He went on to farm in Mexico, Belize and Argentina, in and around King City.  In Argentina he was recognized in person by the Argentinean President for teaching American style row crop farming.

Joe  has 8 children, James, Karen, Richard, Susan, Bobby, Kathryn, Jose and Sandra; 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Gracie; a brother, Bill; sister, Juanita and 6 children.

He will be dearly missed.

SERVICE INFORMATION:

There will be a visitation from 5pm to 7pm with a 7pm Rosary Service Thursday, May 30 ^th, 2019 at Mission San Miguel, 775 Mission St., San Miguel, Calif.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10am, Friday, May 31 ^st , 2019 at Mission San Miguel.

Burial with Military Honors will be held, 11am, Saturday, June 1 ^st , 2019 in the Paso Robles District Cemetery, 45 Nacimiento Lake Drive, Paso Robles, Calif