Merlin I. Tangen

Monday, August 13, 2018 1:51 pm

Merlin I. Tangen, 91, of Decorah, passed away peacefully Saturday night, Aug. 11, 2018, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis. Memorial services were at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Pastor Marion Pruitt-Jefferson and Pastor Amy Larson officiating. Full military honors will be provided. Visitation began at 10 a.m. Wednesday, one hour before the service, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah served the family.

Merlin Ingeman Tangen was born Aug. 13, 1926, on the family farm in Glenwood Township, Winneshiek County, to Melvin and Ida (Hendrickson) Tangen. He attended Country School through the eighth grade, and then graduated from Decorah High School with the Class of 1944. He served in the United States Navy from February, 1945 to July, 1946, aboard the U.S.S. John C. Butler, in the Asiatic Pacific Theater.

He was united in marriage to Beverly Anderson June 17, 1951, in Decorah. They were blessed with eight children: Mary, Linda, Cheryl, Butch, Gordon, Marc, Lee and Justin.

Merlin and Bev farmed with his brother for many years, then they farmed on their own for 20 years. He retired in 1988 and they moved into Decorah. He was a longtime member of Glenwood Lutheran Church then joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah.

Merlin enjoyed crossword puzzles, drawing, watching Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers games, Nordic Fest celebrations, visiting with friends and family, playing cards, fishing, going to grandchildren’s events, playing in the dart league at Glenwood Church, and watching the birds in the bird feeder. His favorite foods were lutefisk and lefsa, krub made from beef blood, head cheese, pies of all kinds, mom’s homemade donuts, macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes, grapes and melons, salted side pork, bacon, creamed yellow beans, potato and hash.

In 2013 he wrote a summary of his life: I’ve had a full and rewarding life. I’ve done just about everything there is to do and been all over, seen everything there is to see and had bunch of kids that grew up to be useful citizens. I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted to, but all in all it was a pretty good life.
Grandpa was very proud and had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Ida (Hendrickson) Tangen; brother Julian (Dewey) Tangen; father- and mother-in-law, Juel and Hazel Anderson; brother in-law, Robert Anderson; and nephew, Curtis Tangen.

Merlin is survived by his wife, Bev; three daughters: Mary (Jon) Wendling, Linda (Bill) Dotseth and Cheryl (Dwaine ) Lemke, all of Decorah; five sons: Butch (Therese) Tangen of Weston, Wis., Gordon (Linda) Tangen, Marc (Dena) Tangen and Lee (Tammy) Tangen, all of Decorah, and Justin (Daisy) Tangen of Sioux City; one brother, Carlton (Elaine) Tangen of Estherville; one brother in-law, Gordon Anderson of Decorah; his grandchildren: John (Jess Garwich) Wendling, Jake (Mary) Wendling, Jenny (Rolf) Goulson, Jarad (Caitlyn) Dotseth, Allison (Seth Christen) Dotseth, Tamara Tangen, Troy Tangen, Trent (Krista) Tangen, CJ Tangen, Cory Tangen, Jason (Laura) Lemke, Jamie (Al) Zahasky, Kari Tangen, Kim (Stephen) Hoffman, Bob (Gabriel Surovy) Root, Ryan (Stephanie) Tangen, Mike (Jess) Tangen, Lynsey Tangen, Bret (Ashley) Tangen, Tory Tangen and Andrea (Wade) Casterton; 31 great-grandchildren; one niece and three nephews.
Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.