MERLIN DERNER
Merlin Derner, son of John and Lisetta Derner, was raised on a farm southwest of Aspinwall.

He served in the Air Force from April, 1942, to January 20, 1946, stationed in Okinawa.

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1943

Makes Solo Flight
Merlin J. Derner, Aviation Cadet at Palo Alto Airport, King City, California, recently wrote to his friend, Dr. A. F. Smith, telling of his experiences.
Merlin enlisted last May at Fort Crook and was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kans, then to Jefferson Bar, Missouri, then to Chanute Field.
On September 15 he was appointed Aviation Cadet and sent to Nashville, Tennessee, to be classified as a pilot and was sent to a pre-flight school at Santa Ana, California, for 9 weeks study. Here they studied code, Math, Physics and other subjects on military science. On December 4 he was transferred to a primary flying school at King City, known as the Palo Alto airport. Here he learned to fly and had his first plane ride.

Merlin writes: "My best moment came today (January 2) when I soloed; And was I ever happy to know that I could take a plane up in the air and land it all in one peace."
He adds he will have 60 hours flying time when he leaves the base in about 26 days. The type of plane used to learn flying is known as the Ryan P.T. 22. Their nickname is the "Maytag Messer-schmidt," and have a landing speed of 60 to 70 miles per hour. You have to watch your step to stop them in landing, he states, or yon may crack up.
They have already practiced, maneuvers to some extent. Merlin says that the barracks there are the best he has found any were.
Good beds and good food girls as waitresses, too. In closing, Merlin expresses his thanks to Dr. Smith for letters of recommendation.

IN REMEMBRANCE MERLIN JOHN DERNER

FUNERAL SERVICE Monday January 6, 1997 Eleven O' Clock St. John's Lutheran Church
OFFICIANT Pastor Wilton Hille
ORGANIST Laurie Eash
SOLOIST Judi Baker "Like A Lamb"
MUSICAL SELECTIONS "Let Me Be Yours Forever" "I'm But A Stranger Here" "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me"
CASKET BEARERS: Jay Wendlandt, Larry Cebula, David Christiansen, Alva Windier, James Morrison, Harold Volkar
INTERMENT Spokane Memorial Gardens, Spokane, Washington

MERLIN J. DERNER
Services were held for Merlin John Derner, 79, of Spokane, Washington, Monday, January 6, 1997, at 11:00 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Spokane with Pastor Wilton Hill officiating with interment at Spokane Memorial Gardens.

Casket bearers were Jay Wendtlandt, David Christiansen, James Morrison, Larry Cebula, Alva Windler, and Harold Volkar. Honorary casket bearers were Bruce Eich, Dennis Carter, Ronald Carter, Linda Ostrand, and Renee Cebula.

Merlin was born October 11, 1917, near Aspinwall, Iowa, to John H. and Lisetta (Sinow) Derner and died January 1, 1997, of complications following recent surgery.

He was confirmed December 20, 1936, at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning.

He graduated from Manilla High School in 1938 and then attended Electrical Schooling in Los Angeles, California.

Merlin then served his country in the South Pacific during World War II as a member of the U.S. Air Force. Following his discharge, he worked for General Electric in Houston, Texas. In 1947 he moved to Spokane, Washington, working as a refrigeration and air conditioning repairman for General Electric, retiring in 1981.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and served many years as Church Properties Director and continued to be actively involved up until the time of his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors are his wife, Doris (Johnson), of 43 years; one brother, Roland Derner, and his wife, Laura of Manilla; three sisters, Iona Carter of Clinton, Arletta Christiansen, and her husband, Gail of Spokane, Washington, and Colleen Eich of Rogers, Arkansas; also two nieces, four nephews, and 13 great-nieces and nephews and other relatives and many friends.