Merl Ross

Merl E. Ross, 92, of Central City, died on Friday, July 26, 2024 at Cottonwood Estates in Central City.  Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 12, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Heartland Evangelical Free Church in Central City with Pastor JJ Springer officiating.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 11 from 5-7 p.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City.  Interment will be held at the Stockham Cemetery on Monday, August 12 at 9 a.m. 
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Nebraska Christian Schools or Gideons International.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.
Merl was born on December 28, 1931 to William and Dena (Yost) Ross in rural Clay County near Harvard.  Merl grew up in the Harvard area on the family farm.  In May of 1942, Merl accepted Jesus Christ into his life as his Lord and Savior.  For his senior year of high school he attended Oklahoma Bible Academy graduating in 1949. He then returned to Harvard and worked with his dad on the farm.  In 1963 he was united in marriage to Sheila (LeBar) Braund in Hastings.  They remained on the farm until Merl moved to Wyoming to attend Bible College.  In 1970 he graduated from Frontier School of the Bible.  They then attended New Tribes Mission for missionary training.  After his training he moved to Hastings, where he worked for several companies as a maintenance and custodial worker.  While in Hastings he was a member and very active in the Berean Church.  He then moved to Central City and was united in marriage to Edna Ratliff on April 25, 1980.  While in Central City he worked for Nebraska Christian Schools as their maintenance and custodian for 15 years.  He also owned his own outdoor painting business in Central City.  He retired from painting in 2008.  Even though he was retired, he remained a committed supporter of Nebraska Christian Schools. 
He was a valued member of the Heartland Evangelical Free Church as well as Gideons International.  Merl was also active with his jail ministry, visiting the Merrick County Jail for many years to share the gospel, until covid no longer allowed him to visit.  Merl was a faithful, loving husband and a wonderful father. He loved to create, build and fix things. He loved history and was a lifelong learner, reading new things every day. He had a special talent of always winning at dominoes. He enjoyed woodworking and gardening in his spare time. He also looked forward to Monday nights when the men’s shelter belt group met together. His woodworking talent was shared with his family as he would lovingly create special pieces to give as gifts. 
But his love for Christ was his most treasured gift. He faithfully prayed for each and every family member to know the Lord.  His family will miss him but rejoices in his glorious homecoming.