Born on August 31, 1924, to Cornelius and Frieda (Friesen) Siebert, Merle Marlen Siebert grew up in the countryside near Henderson, Neb. Merle first attended nearby country schools and later graduated from Henderson High School (1941).
He left this home to attend Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, graduating in 1951. Merle played football and threw the discus and shot put for the track team. Moreover, there, he met his wife of over 72 years, Florence (Fast) Siebert (d. 2022). They wed on May 31, 1949.
Merle began his career as a mathematics teacher in Cheney, Kansas, also attending Oklahoma State University and earning a master’s degree in mathematics in 1959.
In 1959, Merle and Florence moved to California along with their first three children: Joleen, Ron, and Bradley. Their fourth child, Jeff (n. Bruce), was born the next year. In California, Merle first taught at Washington Union High School and then, for many years, at Reedley High School, where he also coached basketball and track. Late in his career and after “retirement,” Merle taught part-time at Reedley College and returned to farming for several years.
Merle and Florence were devoted to each other, their children, and extended family. The immediate family traveled back to the Midwest to visit relatives, sightseeing along the way in the Desert Southwest. Being outdoorsy, they also took the family on fishing trips in the Sierra Nevadas.
For several years, they led week-long backcountry hikes in the Sierras for the Camp Keola Retreat Program.
Devoted as they were to family, they also rarely missed any of their children’s concerts, musicals, games, and swim meets. This continued after their children made homes of their own. Merle and Florence often visited their children and grandchildren, especially when big events were taking place. This sometimes involved traveling halfway or completely across the continent. In recent years, they made efforts to keep up with their great-grandchildren as well.
They were also devoted members of First Mennonite Church of Reedley. Over the years, Merle served the congregation as a Sunday School teacher, usher, deacon, church board member, and church board chair.
Merle died on June 4. He was 99 years old (almost 100).
He was preceded in death by Florence and by his siblings: Leola, Eugene, Corinna, and Rudy.
Survivors include four children, Joleen Siebert of Reedley, CA, Ron (Kerry Noble) Siebert of Clovis, CA., Bradley (Kay Preheim) Siebert of Topeka, KS, and Jeff Siebert (Michael Di Bianco) of New York, NY; five grandchildren, four grandchildren-in-law, and seven great-grandchildren.
Thank you for joining us in remembering Merle.
Memorial donations may be made to
- Bethel College, 300 E. 27th St., N. Newton, KS 67117:
- Sierra View Homes, 1155 E. Springfield Ave., Reedley, CA 93654; or
- The Sierra Club, https://act.sierraclub.org/donate/
