Merlin Ray Gorsh, 25 Mar 1952 – 11 Jan 2013

GORSH, HEITTMANN, MCCALLISTER, LEHRKAMP, TIFFANY, CHASKA, BRECHT, BAETSLE, WADE

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 2/11/2013 at 14:11:46

Merlin Gorsh, 60

Memorial service for Merlin R. Gorsh, 60, formerly of Victor, was held at 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, at the Smith Funeral Home, Victor. He died Jan. 11, 2013, at his home in California after a courageous five-year battle with lymphoma cancer.

The Rev. Jim Davis officiated at the service.

Inurnment was at Genoa Bluff Cemetery.

Merlin Ray Gorsh was born March 25, 1952, in Belle Plaine, the youngest of four children of Vernon and Mary Heittmann Gorsh. He grew up on the family farm near Victor. He attended HLV High School, then Las Lomas College where he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

He married Beverly McCallister Lehrkamp in 1969. The couple had two children. He moved to northern California in 1991 and in 2004, married Lisa Tiffany on St. Patrick’s Day, the same day they met three years earlier. The couple lived in Gold Beach, Ore.

He enjoyed many things in this world, especially traveling. He and Lisa traveled to Europe, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as several states. He had an interest in history and science.

Gorsh is survived by his wife, Lisa, Gold Beach, Ore.; one daughter, Tracy and Burton Chaska, Nevada; one grandson, Kyle Chaska, Nevada; one son, Jason Gorsh, Des Moines; sisters, Cleo and Greg Brecht, Norway; Helen and Butch Baetsle, Harper; Dorothy and Larry Wade, Grinnell, and several aunts and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 31 Jan 2013, The Gazette, 27 Jan 2013, Warrior Tribune, 30 Jan 2013