Merlin Heimerdinger

Merlin Louis Heimerdinger, 82, returned to his heavenly Father on October 11, 2012, after a valiant 12-year battle with renal cancer. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton with Pastor Vincent Fricke of Immanuel Lutheran Parish officiating. Military honors will take place in front of the church immediately after the service, followed by interment at Saude Lutheran Cemetery. Following the service at the cemetery, refreshments will be served and Merlin’s life will be celebrated at the Heimerdinger family barn, 20675 Robin Ave., Lawler. Friends may greet the family 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 15, 2012, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton, Iowa, commencing with a short prayer service & reminiscences at 8:00 p.m. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Merlin was born July 27, 1930, northeast of Jerico, IA, on the Heimerdinger family farm, in the same house in which he resided for the majority of his life. He was the only child of Louis and Alice (Haugen) Heimerdinger, and attended school at the Paris Township country school in Howard County. Farming was Merlin’s lifetime career and one he genuinely loved. He took great pride in the fact that his century farm had been in the family since 1877. Merlin served in the US Army, fighting in the Korean War from July 1952 to July of 1953. He was an infantry rifleman with the 2nd Division, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Fox Company, and was involved in battles on Old Baldy, Arrowhead Ridge, T-Bone Hill, Three Sisters, and the Chowan Valley, among others. While in Korea, he was a Platoon Leader; he was selected from his company to be a security honor guard for President Elect General Dwight Eisenhower on his tour of Korea. Over the last twenty years, Merlin attended many 2nd Infantry Division Korean War reunions and has kept in contact with his loyal, beloved army buddies all over the USA and considered them his closest of friends. Merlin married Doris Bronner from Lime Springs, IA, on February 23, 1954. To this union were born 6 children, one no more adoring of their father than the next -- Deborah (Stephen) Loes from Chardon, Ohio, Gary (Susan) Heimerdinger from Cresco, Iowa, David (Debra) Heimerdinger from New Hampton, Iowa, Karen McGrath, from New Hampton, Iowa, Cheryl Edwards from West Branch, Iowa, and Dale Heimerdinger from Lawler, Iowa. Merlin was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was kept amused by each of his six children jockeying for the position of being his favorite. He was their hero. One of the biggest highlights of Merlin’s life was his annual fly-in fishing trip on Trout Lake, Canada, a trip he made for 21 consecutive years, his last being in 2011. He valued this time spent with long time friends, meeting new acquaintances along the way. His enjoyment of this trip was further heightened when one of his sons and a few other close family relatives joined the group. Merlin was an expert at tying his own fishing jigs, and in the more recent years, designated himself as the master fisherman of the group, always willing to offer sage advice on how to catch the biggest fish. One of the best memories in Merlin’s 82 years occurred this past spring, soon after Merlin & Doris moved off the farm and into New Hampton. A party was held in their honor at the newly refurbished Heimerdinger family barn. The restoration of this 1895 barn was a labor of love, performed by family and friends, and a process Merlin enjoyed watching and supervising. One of Merlin’s few regrets was not having more days to enjoy socializing and reminiscing with loved ones in this barn where he had worked side by side his entire lifetime with his father, mother, stepfather and sons. The tales of milking cows and doing chores in the barn always entertained, but the stories became quite fuzzy when Merlin’s daughters insisted they were part of the chore team in the barn! Merlin was an active member of Immanuel (Crane Creek) Lutheran Church, rural Jerico, and the Paul Johann Alta Vista VFW Post #4069, marching in parades and participating in the military honor guard for veterans who had passed. He enjoyed reading, visiting friends & family, & reflecting on the news and politics with his coffee crew at Jerico Jo’s. The Gunderson Foundation in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, recently recognized him for being a 31-year donor. Merlin was extremely grateful for the care received at Gunderson, and for the knowledge and support of Doctors Kaphusman, Jumanville, Conway, & their oncology team. Surviving Merlin are his wife, Doris, their 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. A special long time friend, fishing buddy, & the father of three of Merlin’s grandsons, Steve McGrath, also survives him. Preceding him in death were his parents, Alice Lee and Louis Heimerdinger, and his stepfather, Oliver Lee. Merlin will be remembered most for his pride in serving his country, unending love and devotion to his family, and for being a wonderful, loyal friend and neighbor to all who knew him. Everyone enjoyed his humor and wit.