Merlin J. Tjaden, age 88, of Lake View, Iowa passed away on Thursday, September 14, 2006 at the Loring Hospital in Sac City.

Merlin was born on October 4, 1917, in Breda, Iowa to Jacob and Lilian (Kaiser) Tjaden. He was baptized on March 3, 1918 at the Wheatland Presbyterian Church and spent his childhood years growing up in the Wheatland Area. Merlin attended and graduated from Carroll Country Schools. On November 15, 1941, he entered the United States Army and served his country in World War II. For his honorable service he received a Silver Battle Star and two Bronze Battle Stars. In 1945, he was honorably discharged from the service.

On November 27, 1948 Merlin was united in marriage to Lorna Wiese at the Lutheran Church in Lake View. The couple was blessed with two children: daughter, Cynthia and son, Lindell. The family made their home in Lake View where Merlin took up his most prized career as a farmer. He also helped operate the Wall Lake Gas Station and was employed at Staab’s Hardware in Lake View.

Merlin was a proud member of the VFW Post 6537 and a 50 year member of the Lake View American Legion. He was also a longtime member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Lake View. Merlin cherished the time he spent with his family and friends, especially when playing cards and taking his family on camping or fishing trips. He was a loving husband and devoted father. He will be dearly missed by all those who knew him.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, Lindell Tjaden of Lake View; sister, Erma Crampton of Denison, Iowa; brother-in-law, Raymond Wiese of Shiner, Texas; sisters-in-law; June Tjaden of Lake View, Phyllis Franken of Odebolt, Nova and husband Vernon Bean of Galesburg, Illinois; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Merlin was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lorna on January 5, 1997; daughter, Cynthia on September 2, 2004; brother, Robert Tjaden; brothers-in-law, Alvin Wiese, Farrell Tjaden, Dale Franken, Herb Hoaglund; sisters-in-law, Geneva Wiese and Lu Wiese.