Milo Merlin Bylund

Milo Merlin Bylund, the son of Herbert and Mabel Miller Bylund was born October 30, 1927, at his parents home near Viola Center, Audubon County, Iowa and died June 20, 2010, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 82 years, 7 months, and 20 days.
Milo was baptized and became a member of the First Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa by confession of faith on October 14, 1951. He attended Viola Center schools and then helped operate the family farm. Milo moved to Omaha, Nebraska for a short time where he was employed at a meat packing plant. He returned to the Audubon area and worked as a farm hand for several years. Milo was hired by Audubon County where he was responsible for road maintenance.
On August 6, 1950, he was united in marriage to Shirley Gardner at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. On August 2, 1951, he was inducted into the United States Marines. During his tour of duty he served in Korea where his unit built roads ahead of the troops. He was honorably discharged on August 1, 1953. He returned to Audubon and continued to work for the County until he retired in 1990. During retirement he helped several area farmers. He was the night watchman during the Audubon County Fair for many years and also assisted in building the race track at the fairgrounds. He sold Turner seed corn and later sold campers with Bob Madsen. Milo and Shirley enjoyed traveling across the United States, Canada, and Mexico and enjoyed spending their winters in Mesa, Arizona. Milo lived at home until he moved to the Exira Care Center on May 25, 2010.
Milo was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon where he served on the church council and was a member of the Dart Ball team. He was a member of Audubon Post No. 120, American Legion and Dale Christensen Post No. 4119 V.F.W., Audubon, Iowa. He was an avid camper and was a Charter Member of the Audubon County Campers which he had been a member for over 47 years. Milo was a member of several card clubs and always looked forward to spending time with his Saturday morning coffee group. He was a member of the Circle A square dancers club.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in law: Fred and Oma Gardner; his brothers and sisters: an infant brother, Robert Bylund, Wilbur (Bub) and wife Helen Bylund, Leola and husband Harold Olsen, Edith and husband Harold Gardner, Betty and husband Dallas Lauridsen, Norma Bylund, JoAnn and husband Leonard Schreiber; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Art Petersen, John Klinkefus, Ronald and wife Marie Gardner, Howard Jacobsen.; his nieces: Evelyn and husband Donald Super and Shirley Jane Lauridsen; great nephews: David Bauer and Daniel Bauer and a great niece Michelle Gordon.
Survivors include his wife: Shirley Bylund of Audubon, Iowa; his children: Susan and husband Bill Lake of Independence, Iowa and Roger and wife Julie Bylund of Audubon; his grandchildren: Nickolas Lake of Independence, Heather and husband Andy Griffith of Audubon, Joseph and wife Melissa Lake of Altoona, Iowa, Christopher Bylund of Audubon, James and wife Jessica Lake of Independence, Michael Bylund of Audubon, Abigail Lake of Independence, Susie Bylund of Audubon; his great grandchildren: McKenzie Lake of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Emma Griffith of Audubon, Parker, Hannah and Ashlyn Lake all of Altoona, Alex (Bylund) Merk of Audubon, and Jenavieve Lake of Independence; his brother: Carl and Wife Donna Bylund of Avoca, Iowa; his sister: LaVonne Klinkefus of Exira, Iowa; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Charles LeRoy and wife Mary Jane Gardner of Marshall, North Carolina, Phyllis and husband Kenneth Watson of Boone, Iowa, Norma Jean Jacobsen of San Mateo, California, Dennis Duane and wife Judy Gardner of Dodge City, Kansas; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Tuesday evening, June 22, 2010, at 7:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Dwayne Ferguson on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at 10:30 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon.