1920
Merlyn
2007
Merlyn Kallem
June 28, 1920 — August 29, 2007
Merlyn Kallem, 87, of Eldora, died from natural causes on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at the Eldora Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora with Pastor David Splett officiating. Burial will follow in the Eldora City Cemetery. Visitation is from 6 pm to 8 pm on Friday at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora.
Merlyn Edwin Kallem was born June 28, 1920, in Ellsworth, Iowa, son of Edwin and Mae (Twait) Kallem. He was baptized and confirmed in Trinity Lutheran Church of Ellsworth and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1937. He was a WWII veteran serving 38 months with the U.S. Army, 20 of those in the European theater, including Normandy. He moved to Hardin County in 1941.
On June 14, 1969 he was united in marriage to Doris Lewis. They farmed west of Eldora until 1976 when the family moved to Eldora where Merlyn worked for the Iowa State Training School for Boys retiring in 1982. He served on the board of Directors of Pine Lake Housing and volunteered for the Meals on Wheels program for over 16 years receiving the Governor's Award. As a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church he served as usher, served on the finance committee, and was a member of the Education Building construction committee.
He is survived by his wife, Doris; children, Eric and his wife Crystal of Dallas Center, Peggy Nelson and her husband, David of Garden City, and Gloria Lewis of Nevada; sister, LuAnn Clark of Eldora; grandchildren, Lara Kallem and Trevor and Cody Nelson; and by several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death was his parents.
Merlyn Edwin Kallem was born June 28, 1920, in Ellsworth, Iowa, son of Edwin and Mae (Twait) Kallem. He was baptized and confirmed in Trinity Lutheran Church of Ellsworth and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1937. He was a WWII veteran serving 38 months with the U.S. Army, 20 of those in the European theater, including Normandy. He moved to Hardin County in 1941.
On June 14, 1969 he was united in marriage to Doris Lewis. They farmed west of Eldora until 1976 when the family moved to Eldora where Merlyn worked for the Iowa State Training School for Boys retiring in 1982. He served on the board of Directors of Pine Lake Housing and volunteered for the Meals on Wheels program for over 16 years receiving the Governor's Award. As a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church he served as usher, served on the finance committee, and was a member of the Education Building construction committee.
He is survived by his wife, Doris; children, Eric and his wife Crystal of Dallas Center, Peggy Nelson and her husband, David of Garden City, and Gloria Lewis of Nevada; sister, LuAnn Clark of Eldora; grandchildren, Lara Kallem and Trevor and Cody Nelson; and by several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death was his parents.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merlyn Kallem, please visit our flower store.