Visitation for Merle Lee Cox, 85, of Adel, will be held on Wednesday, December 10, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a prayer service starting at 7:00 pm at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Adel, Iowa. Funeral Services will be held at Adel United Methodist Church on Thursday, December 11, at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, Merle’s family asks people to donate blood through the Red Cross, or make donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa or Adel United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Vonadale “Vonz” Odem; daughter Rita Cox (Steven Jongeling) of Clifton Park, NY; son Michael Cox (Malinda) of Ames, IA; son Nathan Odem (Brooke); grandchildren Melrose and Talmage Odem, Alex Jongeling (Sarah), Casey Greubel (Abee), Chelsey Greubel (Justin Brown), and Carly Young (Brad); his great-grandchildren Delilah, Mack, Aberee, Ella, Asher, Gavin, and Jaylynn; and his siblings Ralph Cox (Gail), JoAnn Heinz, Mable Buerckley (Howard), Dale Cox (Joan), and Homer “Butch” Cox; along with numerous nieces and nephews.