"You have our sincere sympathies Margaret and family. Hope to see you when we are up north this summer. Please have Rod tell me when the service is. If there we will certainly be there!"
In loving memory of
Merlyn W Jeche
May 8, 1931 - May 16, 2020
Merlyn William Jeche, 89, of Rochester died on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at his home.
Merlyn was born on May 8, 1931 in Wykoff, MN to Leonard and Elma (Schmidt) Jeche. Merlyn was the oldest of his siblings, Janice and Rodney. After high school, Merlyn farmed with his dad until volunteering for the draft and serving 2 years in Korea and Japan. On February 17, 1956 Merlyn married the love of his life, Margaret Rolfs in Burr Oak, IA. Merlyn and Margaret were blessed with two sons, Mike and Mark. As a family they enjoyed many camping trips. In 1956 he started working for IBM where he was a tool and model maker. As a designer, he published 17 invention disclosures and one patent in 1997. Merlyn retired from IBM in October of 1991. After retirement, Merlyn and Margaret wintered in Mesa, AZ for about 17 years. In Arizona, Merlyn volunteered at the Phoenix Open.
Merlyn was very musical. He loved his accordian and concertina. Merlyn and Margaret enjoyed dancing whether it was square dancing or an old-time dance. Merlyn loved golf and in March of 2004 he got a hole in 1! He sure liked to rub that in to those who didn't have one.
Merlyn was a member of Kiwanis Club, Korean Vets Club and the Concertina Club in New Prague. He was a volunteer at the Humane Society, Meals on Wheels and an usher at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Rochester. He enjoyed playing concertina at local nursing homes.
A private family burial will be at Preston's State Veterans Cemetery. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, services will be held at a later date.
Merlyn is survived by his wife, Margaret; sons, Mike of Rochester and Mark (Rebecca) of Breckenridge, CO; brother, Rodney (Rosemary); brother-in-law, Wendell Vreeman and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Janice Vreeman.
Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Jeche family; to share a special memory of condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com
Tributes
"Dear Mike and Family, Paula and I offer our sympathy and prayers for your family. Merlyn will sadly be missed in this world and will be heavenly greeted with Christ as he is well in heaven with Jesus and God the Father. I know it is tough to lose a loved one so precious. You all take care and and know that he is now Home. Brian and Paula Bowron "
"Dear Margaret and family. Joan and I offer our sympathy and prayers for Merlyn and your family. We have also lost a concertina player, golfer and IBM'er. I always enjoyed our drives to New Prague to the concertina meetings and playing jobs as it offered us to have great conversations together. I have missed those times. Merlyn was a very kind person and always pleasant to be around. May he be welcomed into Eternal Life in Heaven. God Bless you and your family"
"Our sincere sympathy to you all. Carol (Affeldt) & Rodney Skare"
"Hi family of Merlyn Jeche---I believe I was his secretary in IBM Rochester, MN. I retired in 1991 also. If I remember correctly, he was in Art Reckinger's Packaging area. I was secretary then. He was a kind man. You have our sympathies---Alice and Colin J Atkinson, Oak Center, MN "
"Dear Margaret, We have lost another IBMer & you have my sincere condolences. We didn't have a lot of contact, but Merlyn was always so pleasant. I was shocked to see he was 89. My memory is a little vague, but I think I knew you through my wife Betty because you both worked at the Kahler? May God's peace be with you. "
"Margaret and family, so sorry for your loss. It has been many years since I worked with you, but remember Merlyn as being a very kind hearted and loving husband and father. Know that Jim and I are praying for you all during your time of loss. "
"Mike and family; Merlyn was such a nice man. He was also very respected by the people that worked with him, many of whom I worked with as well. I hope you have many wonderful memories. God bless him. Scott"