Obituary of Merle E. Worden

We will live stream Merle's service on our Love Funeral Home Facebook page today, Friday, January 8, 2021 at 1:00 pm. There is no link the video will just pop up when we go live. Merle Earnest Worden, 84, of Burlington Colorado passed away peacefully in Lakewood Colorado after a short illness. Merle was born in New Virginia, Iowa to his parents Melvin Claude Worden and Fern Ethel Barr Worden; Merle was the oldest of four children. His siblings included Marvin Worden (Lila), Mary Worden and Melody Busch (James). Merle spent his young years on a small farm near Woodburn, Iowa, he was responsible for his share of the farm chores, alongside his father and mother. Merle attended and graduated the 8th grade from a 1-room schoolhouse near Woodburn. That summer the family purchased a small farm near Loveland, Colorado and moved west. Merle attended Loveland High School; this was a tough transition from the one room school in Iowa. Merle thoroughly enjoyed his physical education class, where his instructor encouraged him to get involved in athletics. This involvement carried Merle through his high school years and enabled him to receive an athletic scholarship to the University of Wyoming, after graduating from Loveland High School in 1954. During his college football career Merle was fortunate to be part of the 1955 Wyoming football team that played in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Merle played college football for 2 years, at which time, he felt his grade slipping and decided to forgo the game and concentrate on his studies instead. He received a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from the University of Wyoming. Merle met the love of his life, Roberta Lea Bixby, in Loveland in 1950. They were introduced to each other by Roberta’s sister, Jeanne. They were married in Cheyenne, Wyoming (1956). They had four boys: Daniel, Douglas, David, and Darin. Merle and Roberta made their first home, together, in Laramie, Wyoming in a small homemade travel trailer. There Merle finished college. After graduating from college, they moved to Loveland, CO, where Merle worked for Great Western Sugar. He was offered and accepted an advanced position with the sugar company, then moved to LaSalle, Colorado. The family made the move to Burlington, Colorado in 1962, after Merle accepted the opportunity to be an Agronomist with the Great Western Sugar Company in Goodland, Kansas. Merle loved the “sweet” life, even with the ups and downs of the sugar business, he enjoyed the outdoors and the interaction with the growers, employees, and the success of a great campaign after a sizable harvest. Years after his retirement, he drove the beet topper for his son during beet harvest, there were many great conversations about the 1969 beet harvest and how the business had changed since his early days as a field man. Merle was very involved in all his son’s lives, being a Scout Leader for many years, he was able to attend many campouts, guiding his sons, as well as many other young sons, in the great outdoors. Merle and Roberta did not miss a sporting event that the son’s participated in, in over 15 years. He enjoyed taking his grandchildren camping and teaching them the tricks they needed to know to set up their own camp. Merle, later acted as City Manager for the City of Burlington, sat on the Burlington School District Board, and was active in Rotary. Merle loved the outdoors, he loved camping, he was an amazing gardener, and enjoyed tinkering in his woodshop. Merle especially enjoyed fishing with his family. Merle is survived by wife Roberta; Sons: Daniel J. Worden (Stephanie), Douglas N. Worden (Vanessa), David M. Worden (Penny), and Darin J. Worden (Jennifer). Grandchildren: Derrick Worden (Hillary); Daniele Sachs (Djuric); and Brandon Worden (Marni). A.J. Worden (Bobbi) and Brett Worden (Pearl): David Worden; Mathew Worden; Trenton Worden; Kayla (Jeremy) Kizer; Kayle (Sadee) Rico; and Clayton (Rachael) Rico. Jessica Worden and Nash Worden (Ciera). Sister: Melody (James) Busch; Sister-in-Law: Lila Worden Merle is also survived by 20, plus 1 on the way, Great Grandchildren, along with many additional family members and numerous friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Marvin Worden; and sister, Mary Worden. Memorials may be made to the Kit Carson County Cattlewomen's Pink Chaps Fund in Merle's memory and may be left at or sent to Love Funeral Home, 377 15th Street, Burlington, Colorado 80807.