MERTEN, Donald Phillip 1936-2017

MERTEN, MULLENBACH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/21/2017 at 13:40:30

Donald Phillip "Donnie" Merten, 80, of Rose Creek, Minnesota, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, surrounded by his family at the Adams Health Care Center.

Donald Phillip Merten was born July 11, 1936, in Meyer, Iowa, the son of Edward and Olivia (Mullenbach) Merten. He graduated from the Rose Creek High School in the class of 1956. Following graduation, Donnie served in the U.S. Army for three years and was stationed in Germany. While stationed in Germany, he sent for Sharon Myhre of Austin, Minnesota, to join him in marriage.

They were married on Jan. 20, 1959, at Rothwesten, Germany and recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary.

After being discharged from the Army, Donnie returned to the Rose Creek area where he farmed until his retirement. He then drove truck for Cenex Harvest States. Donnie was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, the American Legion, and while wintering in Arizona, he sang in the church choir.

He had a number of hobbies and interests. He enjoyed horses, both draft and riding horses. Donnie loved to travel and took trips with his wife to Turkey, Norway, and Israel as well as Alaska and Canada. He loved spending time with family and especially his grandchildren. He shared his wonderful sense of humor with family, friends, and even strangers.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Merten, Adams, Minnesota; children, Patrick (Sheri) Merten, Austin, Minnesota, Sherri (Barry) Berg, Remer, Minnesota, and Scott (Michele) Merten, Adams; grandchildren, Katie (Aaron) Huinker, Mikaela Merten, and Michael Merten, Brandon Berg, Miranda Merten, and Madeline Merten; brothers, Clarence Merten, North Carolina, Ronald (Carol) Merten, Rose Creek, and Harold (Judy) Merten, Hayward, Minnesota; sisters, Beatrice Healy, Minneapolis, Gladys White, Austin, Barbara Nalan, Grand Rapids, Minnesota; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard and Barb Myhre, Rochester, Minnesota, Gary and Cyndi Myhre, Oak Grove, Minnesota, and Marva and Bob Blake, Austin; and many nieces and nephews.

Donnie was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Kenneth Merten, brothers-in-law, Francis Healy, Larry White, Norvard Nalan, Ted Myhre, and Roger Myhre and sister-in-law, Catherine Merten.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Rose Creek with Father Dale Tupper officiating. Interment will be in the St. Peter’s Cemetery with Adams Post 146 American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Adams Funeral Home with a rosary service at 4 p.m.

Visitation will be held at the church for one hour before the service on Wednesday morning.

Source: Austin Daily Herald, 21 FEB 2017