Merlin Chester Anderson, 98, Oconto Falls, died Wednesday evening at Wisconsin Veteran’s Home in King. He was born Oct. 13, 1922, in Oconto Falls to Anton and Astrid (Nelson) Anderson and attended Sunny Slope School.
He lived in San Diego from 1942-43 and worked at Consolidated AirCraft plant assembling airplanes. He served in World War II from March 2, 1943, to Aug. 26, 1944, as Private, Det Md, 51st Gen. Hosp. Medical Corps. After returning home, he married Faye Lucille Rice on Aug. 25, 1945, and was married for 73 years before her death on June 7, 2018. Merlin operated a farm in Oconto County for many years, while working at Coleman Canning Co. and Four Wheel Drive in Clintonville. He also worked for San Luis Manor in Green Bay and then retired from Friday Canning in Gillett.
Merlin and Faye were members of the MotorCoach Club and they traveled to California, to the East Coast and to Florida in the motorhome (snowbirds) for 10 years. He also took a trip to Sweden twice to visit relatives and also to Norway and Mexico. Merlin loved telling stories and showing his movies of Sweden, California and all the places they traveled. Grandpa loved seeing his grandkids and great-grandkids. He also enjoyed fishing, ice fishing, hunting, camping, playing cards, golfing, taking movies and lots of pictures and watching Faye win at the casino.
Merlin is survived by two sons, Danny (Leola) Anderson, Suring; Wade (Carol) Anderson, Rockford; one daughter, Jeanne Ashley, Green Bay; grandchildren, Darilyn Anderson, Danny Anderson Jr., Jodi (special friend Chuck) Anderson, Dawn (Brad) Gruszczynski, Jaime Ashley and Kelly (William) Schmidt; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Alyce Ankerson; one sister-in-law, Helen Anderson; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Anton and Astrid (Nelson) Anderson, his wife of 73 years, Faye, one son Rodney Anderson, five brothers and four sisters-in-law, Clarence (Meta) Anderson, Robert Anderson, Clifford (Elaine) Anderson, Anton (Delores) Anderson Jr. and Arnold (Viola) Anderson Sr., parents-in-law, Arthur and Florence Rice; five brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law, Mike (Monica) Rice, Gerald (Charlotte) Rice, Merle (Bette) Rice, Maynard (Carol) Rice, and Robert Ankerson.
A brick has been placed at the Oconto Falls Veterans Memorial Wall to commemorate Merlin’s service in WWII. In late 2019, he signed up to the Old Glory Honor Flight but because of COVID-19 in 2020, he never got to go.
Visitation will be held after 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls until the time of service. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Gary Olson officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oconto Falls.
Special thanks to the VA for all their help, especially for providing nurses from Woodland Village Home Health, who came into his house every week to help him with all his special needs so he could stay in his house. Special thanks to the staff of St. Clare Hospital in Oconto Falls for being so kind and patient with him.
Merlin was admitted to the Veterans Home at King to live out the rest of his life with special care. Special thanks to all the social workers, nurses and doctors at Ainsworth Hall for the loving care they provided him. And special thanks to ThedaCare At Home hospice for all their loving care and support.
Merlin C. Anderson
