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Merlin Rohrig
MERLIN ROHRIG
Hazleton
Merlin E. "Buster" Rohrig, 67, of Hazleton, died Sunday evening, March 16, 2014, at Buchanan County Health Center in Independence. Funeral Service: 11 a.m. Thursday, March 20, at Zion Lutheran Church, Oelwein, with
the Rev. Leo Combs-Lay officiating. Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and one hour before the service Thursday at the church. Military Service: 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home by Oelwein American Legion Ross Reid Post 9. Inurnment: Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, rural Oelwein.
Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitz funeralhome.com.
Merlin Eugene Rohrig was born May 8, 1946, in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Harley Glenn and Erma Leora (Heidt) Rohrig. He received his education in the Stanley and Oelwein Schools. Merlin served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1968 in Fort Carson, Colo. Merlin was married to Linda LaBarre on Jan. 31, 1970, in Independence, Iowa. They later divorced in May 1999. Merlin lived most of his life in the Cedar Rapids area, where he worked at Wilson Sinclair (Farmstead) from 1969 until it closed. He also worked at PMX Industries in Cedar Rapids from its opening until his retirement in 2012.
Merlin loved to hunt, fish, gamble, listen to Johnny Cash music, work in his garden and play with his dog, Sparky.
He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
Merlin and his family are forever grateful for all the assistance he received from the Kidney Foundation.
Merlin is survived by his ex-wife, Linda Rohrig of Cedar Rapids; twin sons, Ron Rohrig of Cedar Rapids and Rod Rohrig (special friend Monica Craig) of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Robin (Dan) Phillips of Cedar Rapids; three grandsons, Justin Phillips, Jacob Phillips and Westley Rohrig; three sisters, Eleanor Hummel of Oelwein, Ursula Hummel of West Union and Sandra K. Rohrig of West Union; special friend, Bev Michels of Rowley; daughter-in-law, Nancy Rohrig of Springville and several nieces and nephews.
Merlin was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers-in-law, Delbert Hummel and Duane Hummel.
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