Merlin Weiner

Merlin B. Weiner, age 80 of Sauk Centre, died Saturday, February 24, 2007 at LifeCare Hospital of South Texas in McAllen, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 1 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre.Vicar Marty Porter will officiate with interment following in Greenwood Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Merlin Bernard Weiner was born October 29, 1926 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Matthias and Esther (Quade) Weiner. He was baptized at St. Paul's Church and was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. He attended school in Sauk Centre and the Practical Trades Institute in Minneapolis, where he learned refrigeration and air conditioning service. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947 and was a lifetime member of American Legion Post 417 of Little Sauk. On June 3, 1929 he married Shirley Lorraine Averill at Grace Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They resided in Fargo, North Dakota for one year and then moved to Sauk Centre where Merlin owned and operated Weiner Refrigeration. Three daughters were born to them; Sandra Louise, Patricia Kay and Barbara Sue.Merlin and Shirley bought a hobby farm in 1956 in Kandota Township, Todd County and he enjoyed a few head of cattle and sheep. They also operated a small campground on their property on the east shore of Lily Lake. He was active in the community and served on the Kandota Township Board for many years. For several years he drove for DHIA, until his retirement in 1990.Merlin enjoyed many activities, from square dancing to cards and dominoes to woodworking; he made over 40 bread boards from scrap lumber. He also enjoyed snowmobiling in the cold Minnesota winters.In the winter of 1983-1984, the couple took a six-week vacation and stayed at Orange Grove Park in Edinburg, Texas. When they retired, they stayed longer """ about five months a year """ always at Orange Grove Park, making this their 24th year.Merlin was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre and an associate member of Zion Lutheran Church in Alamo, Texas.On January 11, 2007 he suffered a severe stroke. Although his family hoped for recovery, it was not to be.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Weiner of Sauk Centre; three daughters, Sandy and her husband, Howard Johnson of Crescent, Iowa, Pat and her husband, Randy Turner of Sauk Centre, Barb and her husband, Terry Reznicek of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; four grandchildren, Michelle Johnson, Michael Johnson, Todd Turner, currently serving his country in Iraq, and his wife, Annie and Meghann Reznicek; three step-grandchildren, Becky and her husband, Denny Tanner, Shawn and her husband, Jason Holtgrewe and Eric Johnson; great-granddaughter, Chloe Johnson; six step great-grandchildren, Kyle Tanner, Justine Tanner, Kayla Holtgrewe, Cody Holtgrewe, Seth Johnson and Sydnee Johnson; brother, Dwayne "Skeeter" Weiner and his wife, Alta of Sauk Centre; sister, Arlene and her husband, Don Bailey of Sauk Centre; sister-in-law, Glee Weiner of Sauk Centre; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Arthur "Bud" Weiner.

Serving as casket bearers will be Harlan Ritter, Lyle Quade, Marvin Kleinschmidt, Kenneth Quade, Glen Weiner and Jeffrey Bailey. Honorary bearers will be Leo Weiner, Ralph Walters and members of the Little Sauk American Legion Post.

Merlin will be greatly missed by both his Minnesota and Texas families. His family would like Merlin to be remembered for his loving and caring ways, his great integrity, his wonderful sense of humor, his strong Christian faith and his loyal friendships.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.