Merritt W. Tumanis III

Merritt III was born on February 7,  1969 in Battle Creek MI to Merritt W Tumanis Jr and Sandra (Rees) Tumanis. He resided with his parents and sister Cassandra Jo Tumanis in Galesburg, Michigan for 10 years. Merritt was instrumental in saving his family from a house fire when he was eight years old. He was awarded the National Boy Scout Medal of Honor for his life saving actions as a Cub Scout.

The family moved to Battle Creek in 1978 with both children attending and graduating from the Lakeview School system. In 1994 Merritt joined Local 333 of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union as an apprentice and he achieved Journeyman status in his 29 years with the Local.. He worked on most of the local school upgrades and new buildings, local businesses Post, Kelloggs and many businesses in Ft. Custer Industrial Park and the complete renovation of the 14 story Federal Center in Battle Creek.

Merritt's hobbies included hunting and fishing and Morell mushroom hunting with his Grandfather Merritt Senior, marksmanship with both rifle and shotguns (trap), raising large French Bulldogs, and following local Drag Racing at Martin Drag way.

Merritt is survived by his Mother, Sandra (Rees) Tumanis-Dingledine of Colorado Springs CO., his father Merritt Jr (Bonnie) of Kalamazoo MI., his sister Cassandra Jo (Les) Tumanis of Colorado Springs CO., Nieces, Allison (Mark) Perry of Manhattan KA., and Rachel (Nathan) McGlinchey of Denver CO. Merritt' s best friend of over 20 years was Eric Manthei who shared a house with Merritt.

Funeral services to celebrate Merritt’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 26, 2023 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care with the visitation will be two hours prior to the service, starting at 12:00 p.m.  

Donations may be made to the Humane Society of South Central Michigan, 2500 Watkins Road, Battle Creek, MI 49015.  Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.