MERKEL, Rosena 1898-1978

PRIEM, MERKEL, GERLACH

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 9/26/2009 at 13:51:55

Funeral services for a former St. Ansgar woman, Mrs. Rosena Merkel, 80, who died August 13 at the Community Nursing Home in Spring Valley, Minn., were held August 16 at 11 a.m. at First English Lutheran church in Spring Valley with the Rev. Emil Winckler officiating.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran cemetery, St. Ansgar.

Rosena Priem Merkel, the daughter of Ferdinand and Louise (Gerlach) Priem was born at St. Ansgar March 31, 1898 and was one of a family of 11 children.

She attended Newburg No. 1 school. She was married at the home of her parents to Milton Merkel January 4, 1920. They farmed in the St. Ansgar area until the death of her husband January 17, 1975. She remained on the farm until October of 1977.

Survivors are her six sons, Harvey, Kenneth, Paul, Ray and Clifford of Spring Valley, and Arthur of Lincoln, Neb.; five daughters, Mrs. Palmer (May) Vicker of Byron, Minn. and Mrs. Arleigh (Rose) Polikowsky and Mrs. Arlene Starkson of Rochester; Mrs. Darwin (Shirley) Schroeder of Elgin, Minn.; Mrs. Robert (Lorraine) Reiland of Eyota, Minn; 51 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. Also two sisters, Mrs. Mike (Edna) Brandt of Austin and Mrs. Esther Rosenberg, St. Ansgar.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; a daughter, Irene; six brothers, Rufus Priem of St. Ansgar (twin brother of Rosena), Irvin of Austin, Athur [Arthur] and three in infancy, Harvey, Henry and Louis; two sisters, Mrs. Annie Olson of Austin and Mrs. William (Lilly) Zuehl of St. Ansgar.

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 24 AUG 1978 )