Obit: Zillmer, Merlin Franklin (1926 – 2009)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Zillmer, Larson, Simonson, Hoge, Oliver, Eppler, Soldat, Verken, Jandt, Gaede

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) September 2, 2009

Zillmer, Merlin Franklin (7 October 1926 – 30 August 2009)

Merlin F. Zillmer, 82, of rural Cataract (Town of New Lyme, Monroe County), died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, in his home under the care of Black River Memorial Hospice.

Merlin Franklin Zillmer was born Oct. 7, 1926, in the Town of Little Falls, Monroe County, to Frank and Edna (Larson) Zillmer.  He was raised in the Town of Little Falls.

He married Beverly M. Simonson Dec. 14, 1946, in Sparta.  The couple first lived in the Town of Little Falls, Monroe County.  They later lived in the Town of Manchester (Shamrock), Jackson County for five years.  For the past 55 years, they have lived in the Town of New Lyme.

As a young man, Merlin was employed as a farmer and by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at a fire control tower.  Later, he was self-employed as a milk hauler and then as a mechanic by Silvernail Chevrolet and by Waughtal Motors, both of Black River Falls.  He also operated his own mechanical garage on his farm.  From 1966 to 1991 he owned and operated Zillmer Transfer.

He was a member and past president of Faith Lutheran Church of Cataract.  He enjoyed woodworking, traveling and mechanical work.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly; three sons: Stephen (Judith) Zillmer of Watertown and Bruce (Deborah) Zillmer and Jeffrey (Tricia) Zillmer, both of Sparta; eight grandchildren, Casey Zillmer, Amber (Evan) Hoge, Wayne (Jenni) Zillmer, Melissa (Tim) Oliver, Kendra (Jeremy) Eppler, Sarah (Douglas) Soldat, Johnathon Zillmer, Ashley Zillmer; eight great-grandchildren, Shelby Zillmer, Wyatt Zillmer, Matthew Eppler, Nathan Eppler, Oliver Soldat, Samuel Soldat, Preston Verken and Dillon Oliver; a brother, Stanley (Lorene) Zillmer of Sparta; and numerous other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Edna Zillmer; two brothers, Robert Zillmer and Kenneth Zillmer; and three sisters, Geraldine Jandt, Virginia Jandt and Evangeline Gaede.

Funeral services for Merlin F. Zillmer will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, at Faith Lutheran Church, Town of Little Falls (Printz Creek) Monroe County, and burial will be in the Printz Creek Lutheran Cemetery.

Friends and relatives were invited for visitation Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls, and are invited also for visitation at Faith Lutheran Church Wednesday from 10 a.m. until services.

Memorials are preferred to Faith Lutheran Church and Black River Memorial Hospice.

Online condolences are available at: www.buswellfuneralhome.com.