Merle Malcolm Reisner, 91, son of Sanford W. and Belle Wells Reisner, was born Feb. 5, 1916 in Centerville and passed away Dec. 26, 2007 in Des Moines as a result of Alzheimers.

Spending his childhood and early adult years in Centerville, Merle graduated from Centerville High School in 1935 and Centerville Junior College in 1937. He entered the teaching profession spending his first years in the Appanoose County Rural Schools. His first year of teaching was in a one-room rural school, followed with two years of teaching grades six, seven and eight in the small town of Brazil.

World War II was approaching following the completion of his third year in the classroom and the next five years were spent in the military, 1941 to 1946. Fighting the Japanese consumed most of his Army career. He was discharged as Warrant Officer Junior Grade in March 1946. Entering Drake University soon after his discharge, his bachelor’s degree was completed in 1948. Continuing to follow in the field of education, Merle taught grades seven and eight at Bondurant and moved into the field of administration as principal of Manson Junior High and Carroll Junior High for the next 11 years, all in Iowa.

Returning to central Iowa at Indianola in 1958 as elementary principal, he remained there until retirement in 1982. He received his master’s degree from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville in 1964.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, Friday, at Chapel of Faith Church with Rev. John Long officiating. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Centerville.

Visitation was Thursday at the Peterson Funeral Home in Indianola.