Merle Lynne

Merle Wayne Lynne  formerly of Clarkfield, died on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at his home in Minneapolis at the age of 89. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Clarkfield Lutheran Church. Rev. Jeannie Megorden will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery. 

Visitation with the family will be held at the church one hour prior to services on Saturday. Arrangements are with Lynner Funeral Home of Clarkfield.  

In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) or your local American Legion made in Merle’s honor.  Donation dedications can be mailed to the funeral home where they will be forwarded to the family.

Merle Lynne was born on September 2, 1928 in Clarkfield to Melford and Elsie (Abramowski) Lynne.  His father Melford passed away when Merle was six years old.  Elsie later married Alfred Hilden in 1947.  Merle attended school in Clarkfield and graduated from Clarkfield High School.  After high school Merle attended Gustavus Adolphus University in St. Peter, MN, he then went on to join the United States Army, fighting in the Korean war.  Merle achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant in the United States Army.  Merle was united in marriage to Lois Heule (Trandahl) in 1951, and later married Mary (McLaughlin) Lynne in 1961.  He had 8 children, 14 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.  For a majority of his adult life Merle lived in Minneapolis, MN.

Merle grew up as a hard-working farm boy.  At a young age, he and his brother took on some of the responsibility of helping their mother manage Elsie’s Café in downtown Clarkfield.  Many years later the café was heavily damaged by a tornado and never reopened.   Throughout his life, he enjoyed spending his time outside hunting, fishing, and being involved in a wide variety of sports. Merle played football and basketball for Clarkfield High School, but as he aged he loved less physical sports such as golf and bowling.  In his older years Merle enjoyed watching all types of sports, but football and golf were his favorites. 

Merle is survived by his 8 children: Lori (Andy) Phillips (Lynne), Scott Lynne, Erin (Sandy) Lynne, Brendan Lynne, Stefan Lynne, Eben Lynne, and Jenny (Todd) Lang; grandchildren: Shannon Phillips, Kelly, Templeman, Chad Phillips, Erica Fisher, Elissa Nyhus, Tyler Lynne, Tiana Lynne, Sierra Lynne, Sam Duncan, Quintan Lynne, Justin Lynne, Jack Lang, and Robert Lang; 13 great-grandchildren; and countless friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, John "Jack" Lynne; and his daughter, Melanie Lynne.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Merle Lynne, please visit our floral store.