Merrill S. Thallas

Merrill S. Thallas, 84, of Sioux City passed away Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, at his home under the care of Hospice of Siouxland. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Trimble United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Martha Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Ponca (Neb.) Cemetery, with military rites provided by the U.S. Navy. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Merrill S. Thallas was born on May 25, 1930, in Chicago, Ill., the son of Stephen and Evelyn (Levine) Thallas. He entered the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, during the Korean War, serving in the Atlantic on the U.S.S. Rich escort ship from 1947 to 1951. He came to Sioux City after serving in the Navy and worked with his father and uncle at Thallas House of Flowers florist shop and Chet Joslin Realty. He was employed with the U.S.P.S. in Sioux City from 1954 until his retirement in 1992. He married Carol Rasmussen in 1955 in Sioux City and the couple had four children. After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling in his RV with his wife, Yvonne, to whom he was united in marriage in July 1980. He was a longtime volunteer of Siouxland American Red Cross, where he served for a time as the Disaster Volunteer chairman and responded to local fires and taught classes. He served as a cook and ERV driver at the shelters during local national disasters and spent three weeks in Florida during hurricane Andrew as an ERV driver. He responded to the floods in 1996 in Minnesota and served during the Great Iowa Flood of 1993, the two Perry Creek floods and with Flight 232 plane crash. He was chosen Chapter Volunteer of the Year in 1994. Merrill also spent many volunteer hours on fire watch as a DAT member. Merrill enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing and watching the Chicago pro games on TV. He enjoyed cooking for Trimble Methodist Church for their fundraising meals and also helped with cleaning and carpenter work there until he became ill. He enjoyed his cup of coffee to the last drop before the church service started on Sundays. Merrill is survived by wife, Yvonne; his children, Stacy Thallas, Tracy (Tim) Jones, and Tim Thallas, all of Sioux City; three stepchildren, Michael (Carolyn) Hoffmann of Murphy Texas, Michele Hoffmann of Arvada, Colo., and Marlan (Christine) Hoffmann of Gaithersburg Md.; sister, Elaine Thompson of Sioux City; a brother, Ronnie (Reggi) Thallas of Pueblo West, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Chris (Mary) Lafferty, Stephen Jones, Wendi (Sami) Khan, Jessica Hoffmann, David Hoffmann, Christina Hoffmann, Jason Hoffmann and Erin Hoffmann; four great-grandchildren, Kaylee Lafferty, Ellie Lafferty, Aidan Hoffmann, and Sophie Kahn; several nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Ann (George) Thallas. Mr. Thallas was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Stephanie Lafferty; and two brothers, Joe (Joyce) and George Thallas. Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Thallas, Chris Lafferty, Stephen Jones, Marty Hoffmann, Michael Hoffmann, Earl Belt, Mel Carlson, Steve Counterman, Ron Dirks, Don Martin, John St. Peter and Ron Will. Memorials can be directed to Trimble United Methodist Church, American Red Cross in Sioux City or Hospice of Siouxland.