Merle “Cowboy” Loven, 83, of Lebanon, died Tuesday. He was born to James and Elsie (Breed) Loven in Rockford, Illinois, where he lived most of his life.

Cowboy served in Germany during WWII. Upon his return, he worked for the City of Rockford in construction of water mains. He came to Oregon in 1983 and worked in rodeos as a trick roper. He loved westerns and was in The Wild West Show in his younger years. He lived at Holly’s Haven for the past nine months.

Cowboy was survived by his long time girlfriend, Joanne Simmonds of Lebanon; three children of Rockford, Illinois; a brother, a sister, and a half-brother, all of Illinois; and the residents and caregivers at Holly’s Haven of Lebanon.

Final internment will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel will be handling the arrangements.