Merlyn Walter Hansen

Merlyn Walter Hansen, the son of Walter and Katherine “Tina” (Hoegh) Hansen, was born April 3, 1925, at his parents’ home west of Brayton, Iowa and died January 3, 2015, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 89 years and 9 months.
Merlyn was baptized and confirmed at the Oak Hill Lutheran Church, west of Brayton, Iowa. He attended Oakfield Township Center School #5. Merlyn helped operate the family farm with his father. After his father died Merlyn continued to farm and moved into Brayton with his mother. He worked at the Brayton Produce grinding feed and shelling corn with Wilbert Hansen. He also worked as a hired hand for many area farmers until he retired. Merlyn dug graves by hand at the Oak Hill Cemetery west of Brayton and St. John’s Cemetery west of Exira for many years. Merlyn enjoyed his home then moved to the Exira Care Center in November of 2013.
Merlyn was a member of the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. He was an active member of the Keenager group at the church and had been a member of the Brayton Fire Department for several years. Merlyn enjoyed playing cards and spending time with his family.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his brothers Arthur H. and wife Annabelle Hansen and Elmer Hansen; and his great nephew Matthew Ericksen.
Survivors include his nephew Randy Hansen of Exira, Iowa; his niece Lisa and husband Marty Ericksen of Brayton , Iowa; his great niece Courtney Ericksen of Brayton, Iowa ; cousins and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery west of Brayton. The honorary casket bearers will be Melanie Heinrichs, Calvin Hoegh, Robert Nymand, Sr., Gerald Martin, the Brayton Fire Department, and the staff and residents of the Exira Care Center. The casket bearers will be Dwayne Bornholdt, Bryan Clemsen, Chris Davis, Bruce Hoegh, Robert Nymand, Jr., and Michael Veneck. The family will meet with friends Monday evening January 5, 2015, from 6:30 P.M. until 8:30 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.