Gerald “Jerry” Merryfield, who worked for 30 years at the Eau Claire Press Company, publisher of the Leader-Telegram, died Saturday, Feb. 9. He was 82.
Born Dec. 14, 1936, Merryfield enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Wild Rose High School. He also served four years in the Military Police before marrying his high school sweetheart, Ellen Straw, in 1956.
After getting married, Jerry and Ellen moved to Eau Claire and operated Eau Claire Toyland for six years before Jerry spent five years working for Walter Brewery.
Merryfield then joined Eau Claire Press Company, where he worked for the next 30 years. He spent his last 20 years as the company’s advertising director.
He was an active member of state and national newspaper associations and served as a member of the Newspaper Association of America’s National Council and was president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Advertising Executives Association from 1985 to 1986.
