January 24, 2019 – In Breaking News – Blue Lives Matter
United States Department of Justice Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Norman “Norm” Merkel died in the line of duty on Jan. 16, when he suffered a heart attack while he was participating in a wellness program conducted by his agency.
Marshal Merkel, 45, was inside the federal courthouse when he was stricken by the medical emergency, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
A federal courthouse security officer tried to assist him by performing CPR, but was unable to revive him.
(45-year-old Norman D. Merkel was a supervisor in Corpus Christi and served as task commander of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force. Courtesy of KIII 3 News and YouTUbe. Posted on Jan 24, 2019.)
Marshal Merkel served in the U.S. Army prior to his career in law enforcement, and joined the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office after his honorable discharge from the military, according to his obituary.
Services for Supervisory Deputy U. S. Marshal Norman Merkel will be held on Saturday, January 26, at 11:00am at the Zion Lutheran Church in Ashley, ND. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the U. S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund. https://t.co/mEuTPkBIMe pic.twitter.com/hTPqmwnwpx
— U. S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund (@USMarshalsFund) January 19, 2019
He began his career with the United States Marshal Service (USMS) in February of 2001, and served as a criminal investigator until he was promoted to Supervisory Deputy Marshal of the Corpus Christi office in 2015…
Continue reading… Hero Down: Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Norman Merkel Dies Of Heart Attack
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Norman D. Merkel
Date of Birth: July 19, 1973
Died on: January 16, 2019
Portland, TX-Funeral service for Norman D. Merkel, 45, of Portland, TX and formerly of Ashley, ND will be 11:00 am, Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Zion Lutheran Church in Ashley. Rev. Sara Sorensen will officiate.
Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery with military graveside rites by Frank Piper American Legion Post #53 of Ashley.
Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.
Norman died unexpectedly, due to a medical condition, Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Corpus Christi, TX.
There will also be a memorial service at 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Raisin L Ranch, 1043 Kobitz Road, Victoria, TX.
Norman D., son of Calina (Heupel) Merkel and the late Delmer Merkel was born July 19, 1973 in Ashley, ND. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Long Lake, SD. Norm attended school at Ashley Public School. Following graduation, he entered the United States Army.
After his honorable discharge he attended Northern State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. For a short period of time, Norm worked as a farm hand prior to becoming a Deputy Sheriff for McIntosh County, ND.
He then entered the United States Marshal Service (USMS) located in Texas in February of 2001 as a Deputy United States Marshal in Victoria, TX. He was selected as a Criminal Investigator for the USMS in McAllen, TX in May of 2003. He returned to the USMS Victoria office as a Criminal Investigator in December of 2004.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Southern District of Texas as they cope with the loss of Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal Norman Merkel. pic.twitter.com/zIXch0vONa
— U.S. Marshals Museum (@marshalsmuseum) January 23, 2019
Norm was promoted to Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal in the USMS Corpus Christi office in November of 2015. While in Corpus Christi, he also held the title of Task Force Commander of Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force.
Norm enjoyed hunting, fishing, going to rodeos and spending time with friends and family.
Grateful for having shared Norm’s life are his mother, Calina of Ashley; sisters, Carol Adam of Fergus Falls, MN and Kim Merkel of Rapid City, SD; niece, Megan (Jeff) Hamann of Fargo, ND and nephew, Tyler (Sabrina Hull) Adam of Fergus Falls; Texas parents, John and Janice Urban and numerous aunts, cousins and friends.
Preceding Norm in death were his father, Delmer (5-13-1994), nephew, Trent Adam, (11-29-2016), grandparents, Julius and Katherina Merkel and August and Hertha Heupel.
Honorary Casketbearers will be Megan Hamann, Jeffrey Hamann, Tyler Adam, Sabrina Hull and members of United States Marshal Service.
Casketbearers will be Timmy Merkel, Michael Merkel, Leon Merkel, Anthony Merkel, Eric Meidinger, John Kempf, Chad Schaunaman and Erich Schock.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to http://usmarshalsfund.org/
Carlsen Funeral Home of Ashley has been entrusted with arrangements.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Supervisory Deputy U. S. Marshal Norman Merkel. SDUSM Merkel passed away on January 16 while participating in fitness activities at the United States Courthouse in Corpus Christi, Texas. #HonorTheFallen pic.twitter.com/qD70CpoQ8J
— U. S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund (@USMarshalsFund) January 18, 2019
Editor’s note: Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Marshal Merkel, and his brothers and sisters in the USMS. Thank you for your bravery in serving the United States of America in multiple uniforms, and the citizens of the Southern District of Texas with pride and distinction. You will not be forgotten Sir.
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