McConnell, Merlyn R (?? - 2015)

MCCONNELL, ORTMAN, DUNN, MURPHY, OSMAN, GLASSMAN, LUCHINSKI, COLBY, TREMITIERE, LOVE, NEESE, SMID, MORRIS

Posted By: Colleen J Ossman (email)
Date: 10/12/2015 at 20:04:16

October 7, 2015
The Daily Freeman Journal

Merlyn R. McConnell, a truly good guy, passed from this earth on September 16th, 2015, with his beloved wife by his side. Mac, as he was known to most, lived a life of honesty, integrity, and devotion to family, a friend to all who knew him.

Merlyn was born in Charles City, Iowa, the first child of Ralph W. and Bernice (Ortman) McConnell. The family moved to Webster City, Iowa, where Merlyn was raised a respectful and hard-working young man, values that remained with him all his life. He could often be seen working side by side with his dad in the family's large garden. A fine athlete, Merlyn enjoyed competing for Webster City High School, from which he graduated in 1950, and for the local junior college, which he attended prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He attended Iowa State University at Ames under the Navy's ROTC program.

On October 18, 1953, Mac married his true love, Dixie Dunn. What may have seemed like a whirlwind courtship was in actuality the simple recognition that in one another they had found a perfect match. Theirs was a marriage of equals, a true partnership, an example and inspiration for the six children fortunate to be born to a couple who loved one another so deeply. Together Mac and Dixie loved their children unconditionally and instilled in them the values of honesty, fairness and compassion. His family was Mac's true passion; he rarely missed anything in which his children were involved.

Merlyn followed his father into the lumber business, beginning in Olds, Iowa; moving to Apple River, Illinois, and then bringing his growing family to Wisconsin, first to Darlington and later to Eagle River. After their children were grown, Mac and Dixie moved to the Walworth area. Wherever he lived, service was an important part of Mac's life. He was a member of many service clubs over the years, and was always very active in his church. He was a volunteer fireman the entire 21 years that he lived in Darlington.

His love of athletics and physical activity remained a defining aspect of his life. He loved coaching his children's athletic teams. As an adult, he became an avid runner and enjoyed numerous 10-K runs, and especially enjoyed those he was able to run with his children. Mac loved living on Catfish Lake during the family's years in Eagle River; he took up boating and waterskiing with the family, and learned to scuba dive and enjoy a little fishing off the dock.

Merlyn is survived by his wife Dixie, and children: Phil and his wife Karen, Melanie Murphy and her husband Jack, Andy and his wife Susan, Tim and his wife Sandi, and Melinda Osman and her husband Tom. He is further survived by his 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren: Phil and Karen's children Max and Sydney; Doug's children Brad, Melanie Rae, Amanda (husband Andy Glassman, children Ruby and Miles), and Ashley Luchinski (husband Kyle); Melanie and Jack's children Jake, Shaina (fianc Chris Sprehe), Ryley (wife Alex, children Bryson and Hazel), Caelan, and Lily; Andy and Sue's daughters Mallory Colby (husband Tyler and daughter Maelee) and Lissy (husband Beau Tremitiere); Tim and Sandi's sons Scott (fiance Jessie Vetter), Brian (wife Kelli, children Mason and Berkley), and Bobby (wife Kristi and children Bode, Baker, and Hayes); and Melinda and Tom's children Kara McConnell (wife Lauren and daughter Brenna Cook), Nate McConnell (wife Becky, children Abby and Carson), Christy Love (husband Jason), Peter (wife Becky, children Hallie and Marshall), and Karl (wife Leslie, daughters Mia, Macie, and Ellery). He is further survived by his brother Bruce (wife Phyllis), sister LaVonne Neese (husband Don), sisters-in-law Billie Smid and Lynn Morris (husband Steve), and many nieces and nephews. Merlyn was predeceased by his son Doug, his parents, in-laws Bill and Lola Dunn, brother Ron, brothers-in-law Verl Dunn and Wayne Smid, sister-in-law Sherry Dunn, and infant great-grandsons Austin and Mason Love.

Dixie and the family would like to thank the staff at Lakeland Health Care Center and that of Aurora Medical Center at Elkhorn, including hospice. A memorial service will be held on October 17, 2015 at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Walworth, visitation at 11:00 with the service to follow at 12:00. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Lakeland Health Care Center, or Aurora at Home (formerly the Visiting Nurses Association). The Toynton Funeral Home of Walworth is serving the family.