Merle H. Frese, 89, of Quincy passed away at 5:20 PM in Sunset Home on Sunday, May 15th 2016.

He was born January 28, 1927, in Quincy, IL. He was the son of the late Joseph L. Frese and Elizabeth (Koetters) Frese. He married Leta Mae Roush in St. Boniface Church on May 24th, 1950. She preceded him in death on February 28, 2014.

He attended St. John Catholic School and was a 1945 graduate of Notre Dame High School, finishing his high school studies at Heidelberg University while a member of the Armed Forces. He was a technician 5th grade, 3rd Army, 205th Army Postal Unit and was honorably discharged in 1945.

Mr. Frese was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, Loyal order of the Moose, a lifetime member of South Side Boat Club, the Rocky Point Club, and the Notre Dame High School Booster Club.

He owned and operated Riverside Coal & Oil Company with his two brothers, Louis and Clarence, joining them in 1952. The company was purchased by Heetco in 1978. He stayed on until his retirement on January 28, 1979.He was an avid softball player and bowler. He played fast pitch softball from 1946 until 1966 and later played slow pitch softball for Uncle Bob’s Old Timers until he was 65 years of age. He was an avid Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Blues fan.

He bowled in the Thursday night Gold League at Turner Hall, starting in 1950, and was president of the league from 1982 until 2007. For several years, Merle, his son Tom, and grandson Nathan all bowled on the same team.

Never without a story or joke, Merle enjoyed telling everyone his “Little Billy” jokes.

Mr. Frese loved to play pinochle with his friends and family, and usually knew what card you were going to play. He and his wife made 70 trips to Las Vegas.

But the greatest joy in his life was the time spent walking with his beloved Leta Mae. They walked over 8,000 miles in Quincy and were referred to by many as, “the walkers”.

He is survived by his son, Thomas J. Frese and his wife, Diane of Quincy. Two grandchildren, Nathan J. Frese (Brandy) of Quincy and Julie Buchheit (James) of Shiloh, a great grandson, Henry Buchheit, a sister Florence Holtchlag of Parma Heights, Ohio, and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Frese was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Louis, Clarence, and Frederick, who died in infancy, sisters, Hilda Holtschlag, Mary Schutte, and Alvena Frese.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church by Rev. More Torres, O.F.M. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military honors conducted by the American Legion Post #37 and the Illinois National Guard Funeral Honors Detail. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 on Friday at Duker & Haugh Funeral Home and on Saturday until the time of services at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Quincy Notre Dame Foundation.