Merle Albert Gehrke of Echo went to be with the Lord early Easter morning, April 20, 2025 in Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland at the age of 86.
He was born on June 28, 1938 also at Emmanuel Hospital to Henry and Frieda Gehrke.
Merle was raised in Ridgefield, Wash., where from an early age he helped his father with farming and kept the wood box for the kitchen stove full. When he was a little tyke, his father would put him up on the hames of the work horses where he would ride for hours. This is how his love for draft horses began.
He bought his first farming equipment while still in high school and did custom farming, as well as hauling milk and working construction for Sam Zimmerly. His desire to help others in need started early, as well. When the fire siren blew in Ridgefield, Merle would leave class and go with the fire truck, sometimes jumping out the window. He graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1956. He then attended classes at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash.
In 1958 he married the love of his life, Patsy Pettit, in La Center, Wash. Merle worked in construction for S.D. Spencer and Sons as he helped to build I-5 through Washington and Oregon, along with other projects. His growing family traveled with him in a small travel trailer wherever the job took him. As Susan and Linda became of school age, he gave construction up and bought a dairy where Merle and Pat milked cows, raised calves and taught their children the value of hard work. He soon joined the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department and later even served as Clark County fire commissioner.
Merle’s dream of farming on the east side of the mountains came to fruition when they purchased a wheat farm in Echo in 1972. They moved their family there in 1977, when he took the initiative to build a gravitational irrigation system and raise crops he was told would not grow on the eastern side. He always loved a challenge. Merle joined the Echo Volunteer Fire Department in 1978, later becoming fire chief. He was instrumental in putting new safety plans in place and growing the district into a major firefighting and emergency service, often called in to assist other districts.
His faith was always a driving force in everything he did. He was active for many years in the Pendleton Free Methodist Church, singing in the choir and running the sound system. Later Merle and Pat joined the Echo Community Church and led the worship there. He loved helping with church construction projects and work days.
Draft horses and horse-drawn buggies and implements were a big hobby of Merle’s, along with antique tractors. Dad owned several different draft teams in his life. He loved Belgians and felt they were the best, entering them as well as his antique tractors in parades or taking people for carriage rides or hayrides. Merle was always happiest when his home was full of family – “the fuller, the better.” He always loved the noise and chatter of children! Many people were adopted by Merle and Pat as family for holiday dinners and celebrations. Even so, Merle and Pat always found time to travel and fish; they especially enjoyed going with friends and family and sharing their love of fishing with their grandchildren. They traveled to 47 states, as well as Canada, Mexico and Europe. Merle had planned on hosting a community Easter sunrise service on his lawn this year, but he received a special sunrise Easter service as he was taken to be with his Lord, his wife and family!
He is survived by daughters, Susan Arndt and her husband Daryl of Ridgefield, Wash., Linda Carter and her husband, Rick of Pendleton and Debora Airoldi and her husband, John of Pendleton; sons, Merle H. Gehrke and his wife, Monica of Stanfield, Dean Gehrke of Pendleton and Delbert Gehrke and his wife, Beth of Echo; his sisters, Helen Blake and Sharon Erck, both of Ridgefield, Wash.; 24 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 1 p.m. at New Hope Community Church, 1350 S. Highway 395, Hermiston.
A family burial was held at the Echo Cemetery.
Please share memories of Merle with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
