Patricia A. Merkel, 94, of LeClaire, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at Harmony-Utica Ridge in Davenport, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2026 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the services on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Clinton Lawn Cemetery in Clinton, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the family. 

Patricia was born October 19, 1931 in Princeton, Iowa, the daughter of Louis and Zella (Birney) Erling. She was united in marriage to Donald B. Merkel on September 2, 1950, in Camanche, Iowa. He preceded her in death on January 19, 2012. 

She enjoyed raising her three children, loved spending time with her family and completing wordsearches in her spare time. 

Those left to honor her memory include her children, Carolyn Christner of LeClaire, DeWayne Merkel (Annie Stahle) of Bettendorf and Brenda (Jim) Meland of Northwood, Iowa; her grandchildren, Jenny (Terry) Cary, Brian (Amanda) Merkel, Beth (Alex) Elmore and Lindsay Meland; her great-grandchildren, Abby, Justin, Kaitlyn, Carter, Payton, Leah, Madison and Aidan. 

In addition to her husband, Don, Patricia was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Rosemary Suiter; her son-in-law, Ronald Christner; and a grandson, Joshua Schroeder. 

Online condolences expressed to the family by visiting Patricia’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.