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Merlin Jons peacefully passed away Feb. 14, 2019, surrounded by his daughter and son. He was the sixth and youngest child born to Charles “Charley” and Louise (Bauerle) Jons in Carroll, Iowa, on May 22, 1922. Services will be held at a later date.
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He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll, Iowa. He attended public school and graduated from Carroll High School in 1939. Merlin became engaged to Ida Schroeter on Feb. 14, 1946, and was married the following September.
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Merlin purchased the family farm in 1947 where they lived and farmed until 1974. In 1960, they lost their 10-room farm house to a fire. They rebuilt on the homestead a modern three-bedroom home where they lived until 1974 when they moved to Tucson. In addition to farming, Merlin also worked as an electrician with Prentiss Electric, starting as a winter part-time employee and gradually transitioning to full-time and renting the farm. Upon moving to Tucson, Merlin served as the primary electrician for St. Joseph Hospital. In 1998, he retired, sold the Tucson house and moved to Payson where he and Ida lived until her passing in 2011. Merlin then moved to Winslow and lived with his daughter Vicki (Jons) King. While in Payson, Merlin and Ida were members of Shepherd of the Pines Lutheran Church. After moving to Winslow, Merlin became a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Holbrook.
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Merlin was always a farmer and he loved to tinker.
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He could repair almost anything, a farmer trait no doubt. In both Tucson and Payson, he had lovely rose gardens. In Winslow he loved his gladiolas and more recently his 12-foot tall sun flowers. Who would have ever thought an Iowa farmer who battled sunflowers in his corn fields would love to grow sunflowers in Arizona. Merlin’s motto was “everyone should love Jesus and serve others.”
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Merlin is survived by two children, Vicki King of Winslow and Tom (Linda) Jons of Georgetown, Texas; grandchildren, Justin (Ashleigh) Jons and Ashley (Andrew) Ahmann; and great-grandchildren, Victoria, Carter, Rhett, Griffin and another baby due in September.
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Merlin was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, three sisters and son-in-law Michael King.
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Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow handled the arrangements.
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