Obituary Merlin W. Aten, 85, of East Peoria, IL, died at 7:14 pm Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Manor Care at Riverview in East Peoria, IL. Born on September 4, 1925 in Canton, IL, to Walker F. and Hildreth L. Plumb Aten, he married Verna Kennedy in March of 1947. She died in November of 1948. He later married Cecilia A. Tucker on May 23, 1953 at St. Monica's Catholic Church in East Peoria, IL. She preceded him in death on December 3, 2009 in Peoria, IL. Surviving are 2 daughters, Merla Kay Crider of Bloomington, IL, and Theresa M. Aten of Milwaukee, WI, 1 sister, Cherrill Lyons of Austin, TX, 4 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 great-grandsons. Merlin was a 1943 graduate of Colchester High School in Colchester, IL. He retired in 1983 from Komatsu-Dresser after 35 years of service as a gear cutter. He enjoyed collecting and displaying antique gas engines and spark plugs. He was a Past President of the Peoria Casting Club, a board member of the Friends of Fatherless Boys, and a former member of the Isaac Walton League. Merlin also was a member of the River Valley Antique Association and the Spark Plug Collectors Club of America. The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Manor Care at Riverview for the wonderful care and compassion shown to Merlin over the past couple of years. A funeral mass will be at 10 am Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at St. Monica's Catholic Church in East Peoria. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in East Peoria. An additional visitation will be from 9-10 am Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria. Visitation MAY 31. 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory - East Peoria 444 E. Washington Street East Peoria, IL, US, 61611 garydeiters@deitersfuneralhome.com Visitation JUN 1. 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM St. Monica's Catholic Church 303 Campanile East Peoria, IL, US Service JUN 1. 10:00 AM St. Monica's Catholic Church 303 Campanile East Peoria, IL, US