Merle Weiss Obituary-Merle A. Weiss, a longtime Toledo, Ohio, businessman and former owner of the Beer Dock, died on July 12, 2017, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Toledo. He was 63 years old.
Weiss was born in Toledo on July 14, 1953, to Sam and Grace (Frey) Weiss. He became well known in the community through his family’s longtime business and later continued operating the Beer Dock before retiring.
His death marked the loss of a man remembered not only for his work in the family business, but also for his involvement with community organizations, his love of travel and his enjoyment of card games.
Merle Weiss Dies at 63
Merle A. Weiss died Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Toledo, according to his published obituary.
Born and raised in Toledo, Weiss remained connected to the city throughout much of his life. He graduated from DeVilbiss High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Toledo.
Much of his professional life was associated with the Beer Dock, a family business located at the intersection of Lagrange and Huron Streets. He eventually became the owner and operator of the business after being introduced to it by his parents at an early age.
His life later included retirement, travel, volunteer work and time spent with family and friends.
Merle Weiss Obituary Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Merle A. Weiss |
| Date of birth | July 14, 1953 |
| Date of death | July 12, 2017 |
| Age | 63 |
| Birthplace | Toledo, Ohio |
| Place of death | Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo |
| Parents | Sam and Grace (Frey) Weiss |
| High school | DeVilbiss High School |
| College | University of Toledo |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration |
| Former occupation | Owner and operator of the Beer Dock |
| Religious affiliation | Temple Congregation Shomer Emunim |
| Masonic affiliation | Sylvania Masonic Lodge 287 |
| Funeral service | July 19, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. |
| Funeral home | Robert H. Wick/Wisniewski Funeral Home |
| Burial | Eagle Point Cemetery, Rossford, Ohio |
| Memorial donations | National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Northwest Ohio |
The details above are based on the published obituary from Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home and the accompanying obituary record.
Who Was Merle Weiss?
Merle Weiss was a Toledo businessman who spent a significant portion of his working life connected to the Beer Dock, a family-owned carryout business.
The business had been established by his parents, Sam and Grace Weiss, and became an important part of Merle’s life. He was introduced to the family operation while he was still young and eventually took over ownership and management of the store.
Before returning to the family business, Weiss worked for Walmart and served as an assistant manager at a store in Illinois. He later returned to Toledo with his first wife and young son and became more deeply involved in the family enterprise.
His connection to the Beer Dock extended beyond simply owning the business. He had grown up learning its operations and continued the family tradition for many years.
Merle Weiss and the Beer Dock
The Beer Dock was located at Lagrange and Huron Streets in Toledo and had been operated by the Weiss family for decades.
Merle eventually assumed responsibility for the business after his parents had run it for years. The store sold everyday grocery items and beverages and became part of the surrounding neighborhood.
According to a profile published by The Blade, Weiss continued operating the business even as the neighborhood changed significantly over the years. He ultimately decided to sell the store around 2001 and subsequently retired.
His time at the Beer Dock represented a major chapter of his professional life and continued a family business tradition that had begun with his parents.
Merle Weiss’s Education and Early Life
Merle A. Weiss was born in Toledo on July 14, 1953.
He attended DeVilbiss High School and later continued his education at the University of Toledo, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
His upbringing was closely connected to his family’s retail businesses. His parents operated a grocery market on City Park Avenue and another store that featured a soda fountain, before becoming associated with the Beer Dock.
That early exposure to the family business played an important role in the direction of his later career.
Merle Weiss’s Cause of Death
Merle Weiss died at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Toledo on July 12, 2017.
His obituary and published reports indicate that he had lived with multiple sclerosis for more than four decades. His health challenges eventually contributed to his retirement and increased need for assistance later in life.
He had also undergone experimental drug treatment in Germany during the 1980s in an effort to address his condition.
The available obituary records do not identify a separate cause of death beyond the circumstances surrounding his long-term health struggles.
Life After the Beer Dock
After selling the Beer Dock and retiring, Weiss devoted more time to personal interests and activities outside the business world.
Travel was among his interests, with Aruba and Las Vegas being destinations he particularly enjoyed. He was also described as a passionate card player and enjoyed games such as euchre and poker.
Friends and family remembered him as a fun-loving person with a free spirit, despite the significant health challenges he faced throughout his life.
His retirement years therefore included a mixture of travel, social activities and time spent pursuing interests that brought him enjoyment.
Merle Weiss and Community Service
Weiss was also involved in volunteer activities.
He volunteered with the Multiple Sclerosis Society, an organization connected to a condition that had affected his own life for many years.
He also volunteered at the Stranahan Theater and Valentine Theatre, where he assisted with activities including handing out programs and selling snacks.
His community involvement became another part of the legacy he left behind beyond his career as a businessman.
Family of Merle A. Weiss
Merle Weiss is survived by his son, Adam Weiss, and daughter, Michele Weiss.
His surviving sisters were identified as Wendy Speiser and Janice Kardonsky. The obituary also named friends Elana Weiss and Sanford Merkin among those connected to his life.
His family and close friends were among those who remembered him following his death in July 2017.
The obituary reflects the importance of family relationships in Weiss’s life, particularly his connection to his children and sisters.
Funeral Arrangements for Merle Weiss
Funeral services for Merle A. Weiss were scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.
The service was held at Robert H. Wick/Wisniewski Funeral Home, located at 2426 North Reynolds Road in Toledo, Ohio.
Following the funeral service, Weiss was to be interred at Eagle Point Cemetery in Rossford, Ohio.
The family suggested that people wishing to honor his memory make memorial donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Northwest Ohio.
Remembering Merle Weiss
Merle Weiss’s life was shaped by family, business, community involvement and perseverance in the face of significant health challenges.
For years, he carried on the family tradition at the Beer Dock after growing up around the business. Later in life, he found time for travel, card games, volunteer work and other personal interests.
His long battle with multiple sclerosis was another defining part of his story. Despite the challenges associated with the condition, those who knew him remembered his determination and his ability to remain engaged with the people and activities around him.
At the time of his death, Weiss left behind children, siblings, friends and others who had known him throughout different chapters of his life.
His legacy remains connected both to the family business he helped continue and to the people he encountered through his work, volunteering and personal relationships.
Disclaimer
This obituary is based on published records from Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home and The Blade concerning Merle A. Weiss of Toledo, Ohio, who died on July 12, 2017, at age 63. The information includes details about his family, education, business career, health history, interests and funeral arrangements as reported in those records. No unrelated obituary information should be attributed to Merle A. Weiss without verification.