Merle Hamilton

Merle Hamilton, 93, of Webster City, formerly of Williams, passed away Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Windsor Manor.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 29, 2026, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Webster City, with a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. A private burial will be held at Union Cemetery in Iowa Falls. Foster Funeral & Cremation Center is entrusted with caring for the Hamilton family.

Merle Edwin Hamilton, the son of Robert and Luany (Armstrong) Hamilton, was born June 19, 1932, on the family farm in Franklin County. Raised with the values of hard work, faith, family, and community, Merle carried those lessons with him throughout his life. He attended Maple Grove Country School and graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1950 before continuing his education at Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls, where he was a member of the wrestling team.

On June 10, 1956, Merle married Carol Jean Mulford at the United Methodist Church in Alden. Their marriage of nearly 70 years was a life built together through devotion, partnership, family, and the communities they called home.

Merle worked for PCA, now Farm Credit, for many years before owning and operating Hamilton Hardware and Feed Service in Williams. Through his work, he became a familiar face to customers, neighbors, farmers, and friends. He enjoyed people, conversation, and the everyday connections that come from serving a small town.

Merle gave generously of his time and energy to the communities he loved. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Webster City and a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Williams, where he served as a greeter and welcomed others with warmth and humor. He was also a longtime member of the Williams Lions Club, a past 4-H leader, a member of the Hamilton County Fair Board and the Hamilton County Beef Producers, and was honored as a Hamilton County Friend of the Fair.

Sports, especially wrestling, were a lifelong passion for Merle. He served as a wrestling official and remained an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan throughout his life. For more than 40 years, he and Carol held season tickets to Iowa wrestling.

In Williams, Merle was affectionately known as “The Commissioner” of the Williams Ball Field that he tended to for many years — a title that reflected both his presence and his pride in the place. To his family and friends, he will also be remembered for the nicknames he had for others and the simple gestures that made him unmistakably Merle, including his habit of offering a lemon drop to those around him.

Merle is survived by his wife of 69 years, Carol of Webster City; children, Patrick (Dorothy) Hamilton of Hampstead, North Carolina, Kim Schaa of Webster City, Kathy (Tim) Anderson of Urbandale, Krisanne (John) Jordan of San Francisco, California, and Andrew (Sophie Phillips) Hamilton of Cedar Falls; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, with another due in August; sisters, Margaret Ellingson and Elizabeth Olson, both of Iowa Falls; sister-in-law, Arlene Hamilton of Des Moines; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Luany Hamilton; son-in-law, Randy Schaa; daughter-in-law, Rita Hamilton; brothers, Wallace Hamilton in childhood, Bob Hamilton, Bill (Audria) Hamilton, and Larry (Eileen) Hamilton; and brothers-in-law, Eddie Ellingson and Marlyn Olson.

Memorials may be directed to the family.