Merlyn Zipse

Merlyn Zipse, age 78, passed away unexpectedly Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at his winter home
in Dade City, FL.

Public Graveside Service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the New Hampton
City Cemetery, W Garfield St and S Maple Ave with Pastor Kevin Frey presiding. A
Celebration of Life and luncheon will be from noon to 3 pm on Sunday, June 2 at the
Chickasaw Event Center, 301 N Water Ave. in New Hampton. In lieu of flowers, memorials
may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church.

Merlyn was born February 17, 1945 in New Hampton, IA, the son of Fay and Evelyn
(Drewelow) Zipse. He grew up on the family’s farm northeast of New Hampton, attended
country school through eighth grade, and graduated from New Hampton High School in
1963. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boyd and was
currently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton.

On December 26, 1964 he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Jeanne
Berry. The two were inseparable as they ran businesses together and eventually
purchased the family farm from his mother and were proud residents of the century farm.
They relished wintering in Florida for 27 years.

Merlyn had many occupations over the years: mechanic for Richard’s Implement in New
Hampton and Ted’s Auto and Electric in Charles City, where he survived the tornado in
1968, New Hampton Municipal Light Plant Operator, owner/operator of Merlyn’s DX and
Merlyn’s Home & Recreation since 1974, and farmer.

Merlyn was a gifted conversationalist that made friends everywhere he went. He
would introduce himself and become a friend within hours by asking questions, listening and
really getting to know people. He was always up on current events, weather, grain markets,
and full of ideas of how to fix things and solve problems. He could tell stories that made you
feel like you were best friends with his friends, never having met them. He was a fierce
friend that created lifelong friendships.

His hobbies included: hunting, fishing, shooting targets and trap, camping, snowmobiling,
canoeing, water skiing, traveling or driving, cooking and grilling, and talking to friends and
family on his cell phone or in person for hours. He always had two cell phones in his pocket.
You never know which one will have better service. Merlyn made many hunting trips out
west with friends and family for deer, antelope and prairie dogs. He also enjoyed hunting in
Iowa for pheasants and deer. He loved travelling to see the national parks and especially
treasured family trips to Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, Maine, North and
South Dakota. Days spent guiding visits to local sites, parks, picnics, museums and
concerts were his favorites.

He was a loyal husband and proud father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed by
his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jeanne; children Lori (John) Sheehy of Mosinee, WI,
and Jerry Zipse of Frederika, IA; grandson Cody Sheehy of Madison, WI; brother Dennis
(Marge) Zipse of New Hampton, sisters Sue Zipse of West Union, IA, Julie (Bruce) Keller of Lakeland, CO; sisters-in-law Donna Huffman, Waterloo, IA, Janice Berry, Osage, IA, and
Pat Berry of Shellsburg, IA, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, father and mother-in-law Ray and
Margaret Berry; brothers-in-law Mike Huffman and Ron Larsen.