CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- A Deputy U.S. Marshal suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in a wellness program inside a federal courthouse in Corpus Christi last week.
Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Norm Merkel was located after experiencing the medical emergency on Jan. 16 by a court security officer who administered CPR, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, according to The Officer Down Memorial Page.
Following graduation from high school, Merkel entered the United States Army. After his honorable discharge he attended Northern State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice before becoming a deputy with the McIntosh County, North Dakota Sheriff's Office.
He then entered the United States Marshal Service in February of 2001 as a Deputy United States Marshal in Victoria, TX. He was selected as a Criminal Investigator for the USMS in McAllen, Texas in May of 2003. He returned to the USMS Victoria office as a Criminal Investigator in December of 2004 and was promoted to Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal in the USMS Corpus Christi office in November of 2015. While in Corpus Christi, he also held the title of Task Force Commander of Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force.
Funeral arrangements:
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26 at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Ashley, North Dakota.
Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery with military graveside rites by Frank Piper, American Legion Post #53 of Ashley.
Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.
