1936
Merlen
2012
Merlen Perseke
April 18, 1936 — November 15, 2012
Merlen H. Perseke, age 76, of Fergus Falls, formerly of Ortonville, MN passed away at Pioneer Care Center on Thursday, November 15, 2012. He was born on April 8, 1936 in rural Correll, MN and was the son of Harold and Helen (Monson) Perseke. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanual Lutheran Church in Odessa, MN.
Merlen grew up in the Correll and Odessa areas of Minnesota.
On April 7, 1956 he married Lavonne Schwarze at St. John's Lutheran Church in Alban Township, SD. Merlen and Lavonne lived in Ortonville, MN most of their married life. To this marriage he was blessed with two children, Sherri and Paul. He dearly loved his children and involved them in the sports of hunting and fishing.
Merlen first drove semi-truck for Garret and Gabor Trucking and then Frigo Cheese Corporation of Big Stone City. He found it very difficult to leave his family for weeks on end so he began working for Hasslen Construction in Ortonville, first as a carpenter and then as a job superintendent for 39 years, retiring in 2005. He loved construction work and took great pride in working for Hasslen Construction building schools, hospitals, sports complexes and many other commercial buildings.
Merlen and Lavonne were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ortonville. While attending Trinity, Merlen served as an elder, youth leader, and was a member of the Evangelism Team. In 1992 Merlen and Lavonne joined Abiding Faith Free Lutheran Church also in Ortonville. Merlen served as deacon, on the Love Supper Committee and was a member of the Prayer Team. He dearly loved the service Pastor Dave began for the development of the mentally challenged called Jesus People. He often wore the Jesus People cap wherever he went.
Merlen and Lavonne purchased a home and moved to Fergus Falls, MN in 2006 to spend their retirement years. They became members of Calvary Free Lutheran Church. In Fergus Falls, Merlen volunteered at the community food shelf and at the Broen Home.
In his younger years, Merlen played baseball and softball. He served in the Army National Guard from 1955 to 1963. He loved hunting and fishing and involved his family whenever he could to join him and liked watching the Vikings football games as well as coin collecting.
Merlen loved to socialize over coffee with his friends before he entered the Pioneer Care Center in Fergus Falls with dementia. Dementia did not rob him of his faith in his Lord Jesus and he would often sing Jesus Loves Me during worship services at Pioneer. His sense of humor stayed with him until the end.
Jesus took him home to be with Him when his earthly plan was completed.
Merlen is survived by his wife Lavonne of Fergus Falls, Daughter Sherri Boeddeker, Son Paul and his wife Jackie Dornfeld all of Minnetonka, Granddaughters Jolene Olson and Kelsey Dornfeld of Minnetonka, and Grandson Matthew Olson and his wife Karly from Hibbing, MN. He is also survived by his sister Jean Danielson of Ortonville, MN.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother Harold and Helen Perseke, paternal grandparents Gust and Lydia Perseke, his maternal grandparents John and Alfrieda Monson, and son in law Robert Boeddeker.
His family will miss their husband, father and grandfather but are at peace with the fact that he is healed and with Jesus.
Funeral Service will be 2:00 pm Monday, Nov. 19th at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls with Rev. Jim Johnson officiating.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 7 pm with a 6:30 pm Prayer Service at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church and one hour prior to the service on Monday.
Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
The Glende-Nilson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangments for Merlen Perseke.
Merlen grew up in the Correll and Odessa areas of Minnesota.
On April 7, 1956 he married Lavonne Schwarze at St. John's Lutheran Church in Alban Township, SD. Merlen and Lavonne lived in Ortonville, MN most of their married life. To this marriage he was blessed with two children, Sherri and Paul. He dearly loved his children and involved them in the sports of hunting and fishing.
Merlen first drove semi-truck for Garret and Gabor Trucking and then Frigo Cheese Corporation of Big Stone City. He found it very difficult to leave his family for weeks on end so he began working for Hasslen Construction in Ortonville, first as a carpenter and then as a job superintendent for 39 years, retiring in 2005. He loved construction work and took great pride in working for Hasslen Construction building schools, hospitals, sports complexes and many other commercial buildings.
Merlen and Lavonne were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ortonville. While attending Trinity, Merlen served as an elder, youth leader, and was a member of the Evangelism Team. In 1992 Merlen and Lavonne joined Abiding Faith Free Lutheran Church also in Ortonville. Merlen served as deacon, on the Love Supper Committee and was a member of the Prayer Team. He dearly loved the service Pastor Dave began for the development of the mentally challenged called Jesus People. He often wore the Jesus People cap wherever he went.
Merlen and Lavonne purchased a home and moved to Fergus Falls, MN in 2006 to spend their retirement years. They became members of Calvary Free Lutheran Church. In Fergus Falls, Merlen volunteered at the community food shelf and at the Broen Home.
In his younger years, Merlen played baseball and softball. He served in the Army National Guard from 1955 to 1963. He loved hunting and fishing and involved his family whenever he could to join him and liked watching the Vikings football games as well as coin collecting.
Merlen loved to socialize over coffee with his friends before he entered the Pioneer Care Center in Fergus Falls with dementia. Dementia did not rob him of his faith in his Lord Jesus and he would often sing Jesus Loves Me during worship services at Pioneer. His sense of humor stayed with him until the end.
Jesus took him home to be with Him when his earthly plan was completed.
Merlen is survived by his wife Lavonne of Fergus Falls, Daughter Sherri Boeddeker, Son Paul and his wife Jackie Dornfeld all of Minnetonka, Granddaughters Jolene Olson and Kelsey Dornfeld of Minnetonka, and Grandson Matthew Olson and his wife Karly from Hibbing, MN. He is also survived by his sister Jean Danielson of Ortonville, MN.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother Harold and Helen Perseke, paternal grandparents Gust and Lydia Perseke, his maternal grandparents John and Alfrieda Monson, and son in law Robert Boeddeker.
His family will miss their husband, father and grandfather but are at peace with the fact that he is healed and with Jesus.
Funeral Service will be 2:00 pm Monday, Nov. 19th at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls with Rev. Jim Johnson officiating.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 7 pm with a 6:30 pm Prayer Service at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church and one hour prior to the service on Monday.
Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
The Glende-Nilson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangments for Merlen Perseke.
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