Merrill John Gustave Klingbeil

MERRILL JOHN GUSTAVE KLINGBEIL

In his 92nd year, Merrill John Gustave Klingbeil passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Though we are heartbroken by his loss, we are grateful to the nurses and doctors of Royal Victoria Hospital who cared for him during his final days.

He grew up on his father’s farm in Deebank and was blessed with all the self-reliance that comes with farm-living. For his whole life, Merrill was an excellent handyman and a true jack-of-all-trades. He could tell you almost anything you wanted to know about machines, and, what is more, he had the humility to admit when he couldn’t. He had a great heart and was quick to lift up those around him with his knowledge, love, and generosity, and more than once he worked a miracle on a car that others would have given up on.

Merrill is survived by his wife, Minnie, to whom he was married for over 70 happy years. At the end, he was as in love with her as ever, and he often reminisced fondly of the conspiracy between her and his father to see them married. They first lived together in a cottage on Lake Rousseau, then later Nakina, where he began his 37 year career as a policeman for Canadian National Railway, before settling in Barrie with his wife and three children.

A beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend, Merrill is deeply missed by all, including Minnie, his brother Ross (Millie), and his surviving children, Cathy (John) and David (Lucy), who take solace knowing that he is now in paradise with his eldest son, Barry and his brother Lloyd. He is further survived by his six grandchildren: Trevor, Josh, Dan, David, Stephen, and Kaitlyn; and his six great-grandchildren: Anna, Mary, Jack, Luke, Charlotte, and Sabrina.

Though our hearts ache to again laugh at his jokes and listen to his stories, we take comfort knowing his pain is gone, and that he is in a better place.

A graveside service will be held at Barrie Union Cemetery on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. followed by a gathering of friends and family.