Obituary of Merlin John Jaeger

HOLY CROSS, IOWA Merlin John Jaeger, 82, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many, from Holy Cross, Iowa, died peacefully at home on Friday, February 22, 2013. Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 25, 2013, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Holy Cross with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Ray Burkle will officiate. Military honors will be accorded by the Scherrman-Peterson American Legion Post 656. Friends may call from 2 to 8 on Sunday at Kramer Funeral Home, Holy Cross, Iowa, where a parish vigil will be held at p.m. and Legion Post 656 will gather at 6:30 p.m. Merlin was born on June 9, 1930, in Balltown, Iowa, son of Matthew and Marcella (Habel) Jaeger. He grew up on the Jaeger farm south of Holy Cross and attended Holy Cross School. He met the love of his life, Florence Lehmann, in 1948, and they were married on September 25, 1950, at St. Joseph's Church, Farley. Merlin spent his early years as a carpenter, building many houses and farm outbuildings in the area. He was very proud to have helped build the school in Holy Cross. They moved to their dairy farm south of Holy Cross in 1956, living and working there until their son Stephen and his family took over in 1988. But since no farmer ever really retires, he could always be found helping on the family farm. Merlin was an innovator, being among the first to install a milking parlor and to adopt the now common practice of contour farming to conserve rainwater and to protect the land from erosion and run-off. Merlin lived a joyous life, filled with love for his family, relatives and friends. He was a life-long Cubs fan, so when he made two holes in one on a golf course in Arizona on two consecutive days in 2005, he proudly declared that the Cubs would win the World Series that year! He was also a big fan of the Hawkeyes, hunting, bowling, fishing and playing cards. He was thrilled to have had the opportunity to travel throughout the world, visiting over 70 countries on six continents with Florence. It was his love of humanity and sense of adventure that forged many friendships during his travels that are still in place today. Merlin served in the Navy and Naval Reserve for six years during the Korean War and served two of those years as a dental technician in Norman, Oklahoma. He was a member of the Scherrman-Peterson American Legion Post 656, the Catholic Order of Foresters Ct. 881 of Holy Cross, and the Knights of Columbus Council 2001 of Farley. He served on the Holy Cross Parish Council, the Cemetery Board, and the School Board. He was instrumental in establishing the Veteran's Memorial near the Holy Cross Church and the Holy Cross Veteran Historical Book. He is survived by his wife Florence, two children Sheila (Ralph Kluseman) Castañeda and Stephen (Debra) Jaeger; six grandchildren Kristina (Jason Henkel) Castañeda, Benjamin Castañeda, JoAnna (Aaron) Baum, Michele (Garett Padilla) Jaeger, Brian (Nicky Mertens) Jaeger and Amy (Chris) O'Connell; and step-granddaughter Kay Kluseman. They have three great-granddaughters, Eva Grace, Viviana Joy and Elena Ann. Their many foreign students and friends also held a very special place in his heart. Merlin has six sisters: Doris Offerman, Mary Jane (Laverne) Offerman, Florence (Dick) Frerich, Barbara Jaeger, Linda (Bob) Meyers, Marlene Hess, and one brother Robert (Sandy) Jaeger. Also surviving are his in-laws, Sister Mary Lois PBVM, Marina Lehmann, Marge Lehmann, Wilma Hogan, Billy (Joann) Lehmann, and Ruth McMahon. He was preceded in death by his four infant children, Gerard, Lou Ann, John and Catherine; his parents; his brothers Lester and Arnold; his in-laws Anton (Frances) Lehmann, Clarence (Verla) Lehmann, Elmer Lehmann, Bill Hogan, Joe McMahon, Anna Mae Lehmann, Leon Offerman, and Dave Hess. In lieu of flowers, a Merlin Jaeger Memorial Fund has been established. The family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque for their kind care. Information available and condolences accepted at www.kramerfuneral.com