Merlin Victor Imoehl

Monday, November 20, 2017 2:42 pm

Merlin Victor Imoehl, 84, of Decorah, formerly of Luana, passed away peacefully in his sleep Friday, Nov. 10, 2017, at Barthell OES Home. Visitation was Friday, Nov. 17, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a 4 p.m. rosary and a 7 p.m. scripture service at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona. There also was a one-hour visitation before Mass at the church Saturday. Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Monona, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs as the celebrant. Burial with military rites followed at St. Patrick Catholic Church Cemetery, Monona. Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona, helped the family with arrangements.

Merlin was born May 27, 1933, to Frank and Angela (Hageman) Imoehl of Festina. He was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Festina, where he also graduated from the eighth grade. After school, he helped on the family farm before serving in the U.S. Army from Jan. 27, 1954, to Jan. 12, 1956, in Heidelberg, Germany. During his service, Merlin obtained his G.E.D.
He was joined in marriage with Anita Evelyn Reicks June 1, 1957, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas. They farmed together near Festina until 1962, when they purchased their farm by Luana and dedicated themselves to building their farm and raising their family. In 1990, they moved to Postville, and then to Decorah in 2008. Even after retirement, Merlin was often found on the family farm during the planting and harvesting seasons.

Merlin valued many things, with God, family and farming at the top of the list. He was never one to turn down a card game, share a joke with friends or trade philosophies on life. To many he was a soft-spoken man with an easy smile. Merlin enjoyed softball in his younger years, fishing (though he rarely found the time) and golfing. He loved music, and often whistled while he worked in a way that sounded like a baby bird chirping. Merlin wished he had learned to play an instrument, but he made up for that with singing and dancing, and he especially loved to polka. He was always willing to lend a hand, enjoyed coffee with friends, riding his bicycle to visit buddies at Eastern Star, and drives through the countryside to look at farms and the progress of crops. He was a proud, humble man who tried to live honestly and do what was right.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 60 years, Anita of Decorah; six children: Cheryl (Martin) Evans of Bloomington, Minn., Linda (Gary) Hooper of Luana, Donna Imoehl of Eden Prairie, Minn., Ellen Imoehl of Decorah, Bob (Denise) Imoehl of Luana and Beth (Scott) Feickert of Bloomington, Ind.; seven grandchildren: Alison (Austin) Warren, Zyann Hooper, Kara Hooper, Brandon Imoehl, Grant Imoehl, Seth Feickert and Greta Feickert; great-granddaughter, Crosby Warren; brother, Nilus Imoehl; brother and spouse, Laverne and Leonilla Imoehl; sister, Corrina Steinlage; and sisters-in-law, Alvina Imoehl and Arlene Wilusz.

Merlin was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Angela (Hageman) Imoehl; parents-in-law, James “Jake” and Eleanor (Busche) Reicks; brothers, Jerome Imoehl and Ralph Imoehl; sisters and their spouses: Valeria and Gordian Lensing, and Eleanora and Guido “Pete” Franzen; brother-in-law, Leo Steinlage; and sister-in-law, Jeanette Imoehl.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Winneshiek Medical Center Home Health and Hospice WMC Rehab Department, Barthell OES Home and St. Benedicts Church, Decorah.