ROBERT "BOB" HENRY MERKLING
Robert "Bob" Henry Merkling, 74, of Littlefork, Minn.
Robert "Bob" Henry Merkling, 74, of Littlefork, Minn., passed away on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 in Littlefork, Minn.
Bob was born in Littlefork, Minn., on Jan. 17, 1938. He attended Littlefork High School, and was a lifelong resident of Littlefork.
He served in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic. From March to November 1955, he was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. From November 1955 to November 1957, he was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, and from November 1957 to March 1959, he was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.
He returned to Littlefork, and for a short time he worked in the woods. In September, 1959, he began work for Mando/Boise Cascade and worked there until retiring in November of 2000 with 40 years of service. He also did a little farming, and owned and operated Merkling's Welding from 1966 until present.
He was married to Susan Lewis from 1967 to 1986, and had three children. Bob married Shirley Pugh on Aug. 1, 1992. They loved to travel, and in 1995, went to Germany and toured eight countries.
Bob had a zest for life and believed in living life to the fullest. He never met a stranger - just a friend he hadn't talked to yet. He loved fishing, hunting, spending time with his family, traveling, working in his shop and playing cribbage. He took great pride in being from Littlefork and was more than happy to share that information with whomever he met. He was never without a pen and a napkin as he loved to figure out solutions to problems. Bob could be found driving through town in his blue Dodge pickup with a load of iron behind or driving his golf cart. He had a love of anything electronic.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Jean Merkling; granddaughter Sarah Jean Merkling, and nephew Clinton Bahr.
Bob is survived by his wife, Shirley Merkling of Littlefork, Minn.; children, Anthony "Tony" Grandbois, of Baudette, Shelly Merkling of International Falls, Steve "Bear" (Trish) Merkling of Isanti, Minn., Shelley (Bob) Oswald of St. James, Minn., and Mike (Lori) Etienne of International Falls; grandchildren, Mark Etienne, Matt (Erin) Etienne, Brandi (Dawn) Etienne, Sarah (Jesse) Delacerda, Kassie Dotzler, Jessica Dotzler; great-grandchildren, Logan, Blair and Hannah; sisters, Doris Schattschneider and Linda Bahr; nieces and nephew, Susan (Jeff) True, Clayton (Lisa) Bahr, and Cindy (Jeremy) Hasbargen.
VISITATION: 12-2 p.m. Sunday, June 3, 2012 in Green-Larsen Mortuary. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 4, 2012 in the Littlefork-Big Falls High School new gymnasium at 1 p.m., with full Military rites. Interment will be at Oakley Cemetery.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Tags: obituaries
Comments posted on this page do not reflect opinions of Forum Communications Company. Forum Communications Company does not endorse and is not responsible for any statement, opinion, advice given or made. All replies are subject to approval and must follow Forum Communications Company guidelines concerning statements of libel, personal attacks or defamation of character. Replies in the "Talk About It" section that criticize a person by name may not be posted, unless that person is openly involved in a public issue. Comments written in all capital letters or bold print will not be considered for inclusion in the forum.
RSS Feeds