Merle P. “Pat” Bice, Jr. age 88 of Clinton, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at the Alverno. A mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Monday, December 19, 2022, at Prince of Peace Parish. Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 pm Sunday at the Pape Funeral Home. Burial will be at St. Irenaeus Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com.
Merle, known as Pat, was born in Clinton on January 4, 1934, the son of Merle Sr. and Ruth (Ward) Bice. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School. On August 16, 1952 Merle married Helen Mussman at St. Irenaeus Church in Clinton. They celebrated 70 years of marriage in August. He enlisted with the 1st Calvary in the U.S. Army, becoming a sergeant, and served in the Korean War where he received a Purple Heart for wounds received in action. Merle worked as a millwright at ALCOA for 32 years, retiring in 1989. He was a member of Union Local 105 in Bettendorf, served as a union delegate for many years, and was inducted into the Labor Union Hall of Fame in 1998. As a member of Price of Piece Parish and former member of St. Irenaeus Church, Merle was very active in church activities and coached football and basketball at the grade school. Following his retirement, he and Helen wintered in Texas for 30 years. Merle was passionate about many hobbies; he trained horses, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and loved going to auctions and garage sales.
Merle is survived by his wife Helen; six sons -Stephen (Marybeth) Bice of Bettendorf, Kurt (Carol) Bice LeClaire, Patrick (Cindy) Bice of Vesper, WI, Rodney (Deb) Bice of Edgerton, WI, Timothy (Annette) Bice of Murfreesboro, TN, and Andrew (Glenda Stormes) Bice of Ames; four daughters – Cindy Ottens of Camanche, Sylvia Robinson of Camanche, Laura Bice of Clinton, and Lynn (Kevin) Cain of Goose Lake; 22 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild, and a sister, Rose Fuhrman of Columbia, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Christopher; a son, Lance; two grandchildren, Christine, and Reese; two sons-in-laws, DuWayne Ottens, and Larry Robinson; five brothers and three sisters. Memorials may be made to Prince of Peace Church.