Merlyn Petersen

Merlyn L. Petersen, age 89 years, of Reedsburg and formerly of the Elroy area, passed away on Thursday, January 14, 2010 at the Senior Life Center in Reedsburg, Wisconsin following a long illness.

He was born on April 26, 1920 in Glendale Township in Monroe County, the son of Nels and Maybelle (Collins) Petersen, where he grew to adulthood and graduated from the Kendall High School in 1937.  Merlyn was united in marriage to Frieda Odell Zirk on April 15, 1944 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, rural Elroy, where they were members until it closed in 1986. 

Merlyn was born on the family’s farm and continued to farm it until they sold it in 1996 and moved to Reedsburg.  He was also an electrician and welder for 30 years.  He followed his father’s goal in being a steward of preserving the land.  His father did strip farming and he followed with contouring and later set aside to CRP.  He spent 30 years as a project leader in Happy Farmers 4-H Club.  Merlyn loved to work with wood, doing wood carving and making small furniture.  He and Frieda loved to travel and spent over 18 years in the winter months in McAllen, Texas, where they square danced, played cards, met new friends and attended jam sessions.

Survivors include his wife, Frieda; one son, Neilan (Dar) of Kendall; two daughters, Karen (Dave) Edens of Babcock and Dixie (Bob) Fusch of Reedsburg; 10 Grandchildren and 9 Great Grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his Parents; one son, Darrell; three brothers, Arthur, an infant, George, and Floyd; and one sister, Evelyn Fields.