Emily I. Merrill

MIDDLETON- Emily I. Merrill passed away on March 9, 2017 at Agrace HospiceCare.  At 98, Emily was four months shy of her 99th birthday.  She was born on July 9, 1918 in Muscoda, Wis., to Fredrick and Anna (Repka) Schneider.  Her original name was Emma Erma Schneider but she later changed it to Emily Irma.  Emily stayed on the farm until moving to Madison where she remained the rest of her life.  She married her husband of 40 years, Thomas Dana Merrill, on July 2, 1942.  They had three children, John (aka Jack), Julie and Jane. Emily had many jobs in her lifetime.  When she came to Madison, she lived on State Street and worked at the Olympic Restaurant and later Parker Jewelers.  For many years she worked at Manchester's Dept Store in the Madison Tea Room to becoming a Buyer for children's wear.  Her final career, which she started later in life, was as a cafeteria worker for the Madison School District.  She learned to use a computer and liked being around the children. Emily loved to garden, was a big reader and used her creative skills to make many crewel works. Emily's husband, Tom, preceeded her in death on December 25, 1982.  Her son, John, preceeded her on November 23, 2016.  She is survived by her daughter, Julie Merrill-Quinn (partner Richard Whitnable); grandsons, Joshua Quinn (Karen) and Eli Quinn; her daughter Jane Holtzman (Steve); her daugher-in-law, Shirley Merrill (nee Walsvik); grandchildren Robert (Nicole) Merrill; Kristine Merrill-Terrio (fiance Quinn Swift) of Phoenix, AZ and Dirk Merrill of Pittsburgh, PA; great grandchildren Tanner Merrill,  Gabrielle Merrill and Tucker Merrill; Grant Terrio and Keegan Terrio of Phoenix; S. Pierce Merrill and Paige Merrill of Pittsburgh. Emily was also proceeded in death by her parents, Fred and Anna Schneider; brothers, George, Henry and LeRoy Schneider; sisters, Mildred Wagner, Clara Storms, Freda Nebel and Dorothy Sanders.  Emily is survived by her sister, Anita Key, of Prairie du Sac and many nieces and nephews. Emily's family provided caregiving for her for the past nine years.  It was an honor to care for our mother who cared for her own mother.  We learned from the best.Emily was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  The family held a small private family gathering on Saturday, March 18, 2017.  Emily was able to attend her son, John's, funeral in November and her many relatives, grandchilren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews were able to visit with her.  A Schneider Family Reunion and celebration of Emily's life is being planned for later in July.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.