Merle Hasenfratz

Merle J. Hasenfratz, 79, of Perry, Oklahoma was the son of Noxy and Tressia Bower Hasenfratz. He was born southeast of Perry on October 15, 1923 and died Monday, September 22, 2003 at Green Valley Nursing Home in Perry. Graveside services will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 25, 2003 at Grace Hill Cemetery. Rev. Buddy Hunt will officiate. Brown-Dugger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society in care of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Merle was a life-long resident of Noble County. He and the former Elenora Heppler were married in Perry on August 10, 1945. He served in the United States Air Force from February, 1943 to November, 1945. On April 24, 1944, he was taken Prisoner of War after his plane was shot down. He was a Prisoner of War until April 29, 1945 when he was liberated by the American Rescue Party. Merle attained the rank of Staff Sergeant before he was discharged. He received the American Theater Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with Bronze Star, an Air Medal and a Victory Medal. On August 1, 2001, 57 years after his discharge from military service, Merle received his Purple Heart in a ceremony at Perry Golf and Country Club. Merle worked as a machinist at Elwell Auto Supply before retirement. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and Ex-POWs. In addition to his wife, Elenora, survivors are two daughters, Janis Gill and her husband, Buddy, and Joni Cockrum and her husband, Stan, and one son, Joey Hasenfratz, all of Perry, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one sister, Loretta Witt, of Noble, Oklahoma. His parents preceded him in death. Condolences may be sent to the family using our online guest book at www.brown-duggerfuneralhome.com.