O. Merton Hauck
(November 07, 1932 – May 27, 2015)
Mert was born November of 1932 to Russell and Jane Wentworth Hauck. He was raised and schooled in Unionville, MO. In his youth he trained horses and showed Hereford cattle. He also became an Eagle Scout.
Mert earned a BS degree in Agriculture from the University of Missouri. While at Missouri he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He also met Sue Lawson, his future wife. They married in 1955 and enjoyed 58 years of marriage.
Mert served his country as an Artillery officer. He trained troops at Fort Ord, CA for deployment to Korea. After an honorable discharge from the Army, Mert managed a livestock auction in Florida. He returned to the Midwest to be a department manager at Effingham Clay Service Co, an FS Member company. He was selected to become a General Manager at Jo Davies Service Co in Elizabeth, IL and later became the General Manager of Moultrie Shelby FS in Shelbyville. He finished his career as Credit Manager of Wabash Valley Service Co in southeast Illinois.
After retiring, Mert became a successful investor. He collected antique tractors. He also managed farms he and Sue owned in Nebraska. He established a small herd of registered Texas Longhorn cattle he kept in Moultrie County.
Mert was a 60 year Mason, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar, a Shriner and an Eastern Star member. He was also a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Court 20 in Springfield and served as Director of Court 20 in 1998. Mert was the Charter President of the Shelby County Shrine Club and the Charter Captain of the Ansar Safety Squad.
He was a proud veteran and a long-time member of the American Legion. Mert was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary and served twice as Rotary Club President, first in Shelbyville and later in Albion, IL.
Mert is survived by sons Reverend John, Russell and Robert and their wives. Mert and Sue had nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an older brother, Russell, his parents and wife Sue.
A memorial celebration of Mert’s life will be held Friday, June 12, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church in Shelbyville, where he was a member. Visitation at 2:00 PM with service at 3:00 PM and a reception following at the Shelby County Senior Center at Forest Park. A Masonic service will precede the memorial with military honors following. Memorials to Shriners Hospital in St. Louis or First United Methodist Church in Shelbyville. Arrangements by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home of Shelbyville.
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