Merle Weldon Bittner, 88, Fairbury, died at 3:50 pm Thursday, November 5, 2015 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury with Pastor Tom Krieger officiating. Burial will be in South Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury. Full military rites will be conducted by the Fairbury VFW and American Legion posts.

Visitation will be 5:00 to 8:00 pm Monday, November 9, 2015 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. The family suggests memorials be given to the Community Cancer Center, Normal.

Mr. Bittner was born December 16, 1926 in Fairbury, IL the son of Samuel and Lydia Zimmerman Bittner. He married Ruth H. Miller on March 20, 1949 in Chenoa, IL. She died on April 22, 2011.

Survivors include 2 sons, Terry Lee (Sue) Bittner, Towanda, Robert Samuel (Kathy) Bittner, Fairbury, daughter-in-law, Cheryl Saunders, Georgia, 4 grandsons, Brenton, Patrick, Douglas and Jason Bittner, 2 granddaughters, Lori (Brian) Warfel, Sara (Kerry) Tredennick, granddaughter in law, Carrie Bittner, 10 great grandchildren, 2 sisters, Emma (Peter) Schaffer and Jean Bittner, both of Fairbury.

He is preceded in death by 1 son, Dale, 1 grandson, Scott, 1 brother, and 3 sisters.

Mr. Bittner served in the US Navy during WWII. He was a lifetime farmer and a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury.