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Merlin J. Ehmen was born June 24, 1930 in Burr, Nebraska to William and Sena (Flessner) Ehmen and passed away May 4, 2016 in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He attended grade school at District 11 in Johnson County better known as Saunder Creek.  He graduated from Sterling High School in 1948 and entered the United States Marines on December 6, 1951 and was discharged December 6, 1953.  Merlin was married to Colleen Points on February 6, 1955, to this union 6 children were born, 5 boys and 1 girl.

After his military service he was engaged in farming from 1953 to 1963.  In 1963, he and Colleen bought a motel and home in Fairmont, Nebraska and ran it until November 1981, when they bought an acreage between Fairmont and Exeter and live there until June 21, 2002 when they moved back to Fairmont.

After moving to Fairmont in 1963, Merlin drove a school bus for 13 years and was employed as Fillmore County Weed Superintendent from 1966 until 2009.  He was a member of the Fairmont Volunteer Fire Department serving as fire chief one year.  Merlin was a member of the Fairmont Lions Club a number of years serving as chairman one year.  He was a church board member 2 terms at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Geneva serving as chairman 2 years.  Merlin was a Boy Scout leader a number of years while living in Fairmont when his sons were growing up.  At the time of his death, he was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in York.

Merlin was on the Fairmont City Council for a period of three years and helped get a new swimming pool and nursing home built while serving on the council.  Merlin was put on the Fillmore County Safety Committee when it was adopted in 1994 and served as chairman for 3 years.  He was a member of Fairmont Legion Club for many years.  Merlin loved spoiling his grandkids and then sending them home!  He and Colleen loved to travel near and far, having spent time in every state in the union but Hawaii.

Merlin is survived by his wife, Colleen; his children and spouses, Rod and Laura Ehmen of Fairmont, Kathryn and Dan Ekeler of Fairmont, SSG Ret. USA Michael and Tammy Ehmen of Savannah, GA, Randy Ehmen of O’Neill, William and Dawn Ehmen of Waco; his daughter-in-law, Lynn Ehmen of North Platte; his grandchildren, Brandon (Lindsey) Ehmen, Courtney (Colbi) Ragon, Dillon (Megan) Ehmen, Colleen (Aaron) Race, Andrew (Alissa) Schick, Heather Ekeler, Stephanie Grein, Christine Donton, Christopher (Casey) Ehmen, Justin (Alexia) Ehmen, Morgan (Shane) Hinely, Blake Ehmen, Brianne Kelly, Brett (Brea) Ehmen, Eric (Megan) Ehmen, Cori (Jeremy) Ehmen; and 13 Great Grandchildren;  Sisters, Wilma Voelk of Shawnee, KS, Joan Hestermann of Lincoln; Sisters-in-law, Regina Thomas of York, Darlene Urbanek of Pineview, MO.

He is preceded in death by his son, Dennis Ehmen; Parents, William and Sena (Flessner) Ehmen; Siblings, Ernest, Dale, Darlene Ehmen, Matilda Truscott, Frieda Rathe, Arline Zimmerman, Esther Fritsch, William J. Ehmen; brothers-in-law, Ron Alexander, George Thomas.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, at the St. John Lutheran Church, 440 Ohio Street, Sterling, NE, with visitation being held one hour before services.  Burial will be in the Sterling Cemetery with full military honors.  Memorials, Emmanuel Faith Lutheran School, 806 N. Beaver, York, NE 68467.  Trump Funeral Services, 1600 West “O” Street, Lincoln are handling the arrangements.  Condolences may be left at trumpmemorials.com.