Merle Franz

Merle John Franz was born on September 4, 1939, in Mt. Lake, Minnesota to the late John P. and Agnes L. (Worms) Franz. He received his education in the Mt. Lake Public Schools; graduating in the Class of 1957. On June 1, 1962, Merle was united in marriage to Mary Louise Regehr in Bethel Mennonite Church in Mt. Lake. After marriage, Merle and Mary lived in Mt. Lake until moving to Windom in 1968. Through the years, Merle worked at several different places including the Epp Store in Mt. Lake, Fair Store, Terrace Park and finally Bolin Lumber all located in Windom. On December 30, 2003, Merle retired from Bolin Lumber in Windom. After retirement, Merle and Mary continued to live in Windom. On July 27, 2004, Mary was able to give the gift of life to her husband with the donation of a kidney to Merle. In the late summer of 2007 Merle contracted the West Nile Virus. He was taken to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he received excellent care and was to come home the first part of March. On January 31, 2008, Merle became suddenly ill and was taken to the Avera-McKennan Hospital where he passed away on February 1, 2008, with his family at his side, at the age of 68. Merle will be re...[more]

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bered for many things in life including his enjoyment of singing in church choirs and the Mt. Lake Choral Society, cars, gardening, enjoyment of a "clean van" ~ inside and out, his little jokes, watching lightning storms on the porch, and most of all, his love for his family, especially his grandchildren. Merle is survived by his wife of forty-five years, Mary Franz of Windom; four children, Deann Steele and her husband, Lane, of Windom; Lynae Franz of Shakopee; Joelle McGaffey and her husband, Steven, of Northfield; Monica Deutschman and her husband, Dain, of Shakopee; 10 grandchildren; one brother, Dennis Franz and his wife, Marilyn of Bloomington; and several nieces and nephews. Merle is preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Lavilla Quiring. The Merle Franz family would prefer memorials to the National Kidney Foundation. You may mail your donation to: National Kidney Foundation 30 East 33rd Street New York NY 10016