Merle Lloyd Waltz

Merle Lloyd Waltz, 73, of Tipton, IA, entered eternity on Wednesday June 28, 2023 while at home surrounded by his loving family.  The Waltz family is especially grateful for the care Iowa City Hospice provided Merle during his long battle with COPD. On Saturday, July 1, 2023, Fry Funeral Home will host a Visitation from 10:00 am – 11:30 am and a Celebration of Life Service at 11:30 am. Immediately following the Celebration of Life Service, family and friends are invited to the Tipton VFW for a luncheon and time of memories. Merle will be buried in the Rochester Cemetery at a later date. Family asks that cards and memorials be mailed to 1216 – 290th St, Tipton, IA 52772. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com. Merle Lloyd Waltz, son of Melvin Leroy and Rose Evelyn (Winekauf) Waltz, was born on Wednesday, February 8, 1950 in Davenport, IA. He graduated from Tipton High School with the Class of 1968. On June 7, 1969, Merle married his high school sweetheart, Diana Lynne Zaruba, and they started their life together in Tipton. Over the course of his life, Merle was known for being a jack of all trades and master of many. He started out working for his father’s welding shop, worked for the highway commission, and then farmed. After 15 years of farming Merle and Diana moved to Rochester. Merle then obtained his real estate license, worked setting headstones, and in 1993, he started working for and eventually became part owner of the Rochester Sawmill, until it was completely destroyed by the flood of 2008. From here, Merle worked for Cedar County until his retirement in 2014. In his free time, Merle enjoyed hunting and fishing, specifically deer and pheasant hunting and fishing in the Cedar River, Mississippi River and in Canada. He also did woodworking, was the go-to man for making complicated welding repairs and enjoyed cooking and canning together with Diana. Merle is survived by his wife, Diana; sons, Daniel (Dee Loveland) Waltz of Palo, IA and Jeremy (Barbie) Waltz of Central City, IA; sister, Rita (Todd) Catlett of Nichols, IA; brothers, Gary (Linda) Waltz of Hudson, FL & Tipton, IA, Randy (Irene) Waltz of Homasasa, FL, and Rick (Beth) Waltz of Tipton, IA; and 5 grandchildren, Morgan, Allyson, Bryanna, Ethan and Jacob. He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Rose; father-in-law, John Zaruba; and nephews, Eric Grau and Austin Zaruba.