Merle Judes

Merle W. Judes, age 91 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully surrounded by family Saturday, June 14, 2014 at CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 17 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove Lake. Rev. Jack Baumgarn will officiate with interment following in Grove Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and at the church Tuesday one hour prior to the service.

Merle William Judes was born April 13, 1923 in Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Carl Henry and Dorothea (Bruns) Judes. He attended St. Paul Ag School where he was on the wrestling team with Vern Gagne. On September 23, 1945 he married Myrtle Olson at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. The couple was married for over 68 years and farmed nearly all of their married life near Padua in Raymond Township. He and Myrtle enjoyed dancing together. He retired in 2005 and had been a resident of CentraCare Health Nursing Home for the past three years.

Merle was known for his registered Jersey dairy herd and was very active in the Jersey Cattle Club, which he served as president for many years. He also had Belgian draft horses and other livestock. He loved to participate in showing cattle at county and state fairs and various dairy shows across the state. He took such great joy in watching his children and grandchildren show cattle also.

He was also an active member of the Farmer's Union serving on the board and as president. He was a long time member of the Stearns County Fair Board and a 4-H leader. He served on the Lyman Prairie School Board until the school closed in 1970. He was also a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove Lake.

Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Judes of Sauk Centre; five children, Dale (Gladys) Judes of Eagle Bend, Ken (Bonnie) Judes of Gillette, Wyoming, Carol (Larry) Stuckey of Lancaster, Wisconsin, Daniel (Darla) Judes of Sheridan, Wyoming, and Carl (Sandy) Judes of Meire Grove; 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and twin sister, Marcella Halstead of Sherwood, Oregon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jeffrey Judes; and brothers, Marvin and Darwin Judes.

Serving as casket bearers will be Shawn, Austin, Brian, and Greg Judes, James and Patrick Larson. Honorary bearers will be Jennifer Peterson, Tim Larson, Sister John Paul (Angela Judes), Crystle Miller, Ashley and Tony Judes, Mark Stuckey and all of his great-grandchildren.