Merrill Dean Fritschle (92) of Newton

Funeral services celebrating Dean's life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 15 with Pastor Collin Smith officiating.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Tuesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery, Newton. Military rites will be offered by Jasper Post No. 20 of the American Legion.

Merrill Dean was born April 18, 1930, southwest of Newton to Hansel and Nellie Fritschle. He married Terry James January 28, 1972 and became step-father to Jesse James and Tim James.  Dean worked at the grain elevator, drove trucks, operated heavy equipment and farmed.  He loved his church and was a charter member of Scott Avenue Christian Church.  He loved his family and seeing them grow up. Memorial gifts in honor of Dean may be made to the Scott Avenue Christian Church Building Fund.Online condolences may be left by clicking here.

In his free time, Dean loved to fish and spent many of his retirement years camping and fishing on the lakes in Southern Illinois. He enjoyed searching for those big ones with his best fishing buddy Terry.  

Dean will be loved and remembered by his wife of 50 years Terry Fritschle of Newton; step-son Jesse (Susie) James of  Newton and step daughter-in-law Cathy James Benefiel of  Mt. Vernon;  five grandchildren Josh James of Mt. Vernon;  Tyler James of Christopher; Chris (Cheryl) James and Jodi (Michael) Mulvey all of Newton and Casey (Caitlin) James of Effingham; and 11 great-grandchildren; brother  Charles (Eloise) Fritschle of Newton; sister JoAnn (Melvin) Birk of Newton;  sister-in-law Virginia McKinney of Newton and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and step-son Tim James.