Merlin I. Anderson was born February 11, 1943 in Oakland, Nebraska to Ivan and Thelma (Fehrer) Anderson. He passed away peacefully at CHI Bergan Mercy on January 1, 2024, age 80, surrounded by his family.
After graduating from Oakland High School in 1960, Merlin spent one year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. During that year, he took over the family farm due to his father’s failing health. This career spanned through the 2023 harvest where he still unloaded soybeans and combined over 700 acres of corn.
Merlin married Rosemary Heller on August 31, 1969 at First Lutheran Church in Fremont, NE. He and Rosemary were blessed with three children: Keith, Kevin and Brenda. They raised their children on the family homestead on the county line west of Oakland.
Farming was his passion, raising both livestock and crops throughout his career. His family farm received the Pioneer Farm Family Award in 1981, and he represented the third generation of what is now a five generation farm. He enjoyed collecting farm toys depicting equipment used on the family farm and by other family operations.
Merlin was baptized and a lifelong active member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland. He served in the Army Reserves during the 1960s, was an active member of the Oakland Jaycees, served on the District 14 Cuming County School board for many years, and he and Rosemary spent many nights and years enjoying square dancing.
Merlin enjoyed attending auctions and spent time following his grandchildren’s activities from athletics to music to plays. He took pride in attention to detail and a job done right the first time. His thoroughness showed how doing the little things made big impacts.
He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law: LaVere and Elvira Heller; brothers-in-law: Harlan Slatt, Walter Gocek, and John Cederberg; and nephew, David Slatt.
Merlin is survived by Rosemary, his wife of 54 years; sons: Keith (Brenda) Anderson of Oakland, Kevin (Kara) Anderson of Lyons; daughter, Brenda (special friend Justin Dodd) Henning of Lincoln; grandchildren: Justin (Rhe) Anderson, Bethany (Dillon) Hinrickson, Blake (Taylor) Anderson, Brayden Anderson, Elise Anderson, Linden Anderson, Sebastian Henning, and Logan Henning; great granddaughter, Kinsley Hinrickson with second great grandchild expected in February; sisters: Ardythe Cederberg and Mardelle Gocek; uncle, Melvin (Judy) Fehrer; and many nieces, nephew, and cousins. The funeral service was held on Friday, January 5, 2024, 10:00 am at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland, NE with visitation on Thursday, 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Pelan Funeral Services Oakland, and interment at Westside Cemetery, rural Oakland, NE. Memorials suggested to the family for future designation.
