I finally stopped searching for more pictures of Merlyn and his myriad of projects and community activities he was involved in over the decades.
Hopefully the younger generations will go through his tribute to see what one man can accomplish when he works with many members of the community.
We need more citizens like Merlyn to take over where he left off...

Mass of the Christian Burial for Merlyn Irlbeck, age 87, of Manning will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Sacred Heart Church in Manning with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Visitation is from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2023, at Sacred Heart Church in Manning with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

Merlyn passed away on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at Accura Healthcare of Manning. Ohde Funeral Home in Manning is in charge of arrangements.

Merlyn Engelbert, son of Anselm Theodore and Wilhelmina “Minnie” (Steffes) Irlbeck, was born February 26, 1936, one mile east and a quarter mile north of Manning on the family farm. He was baptized the next day. Merlyn grew up on the family farm and attended Ewoldt No. 6 "Struve" country school through the eighth grade.

Merlyn first worked for Wendelin "Weed" Hacker in Templeton in 1955 until he was inducted into the U.S. Army in January of 1956. He trained at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Hood, Texas, before being stationed at Johnson Air Force Base, in Tokyo, Japan, and Oppama Naval Base in Yokohama, Japan. Merlyn served as an Anti-aircraft Artillery Gun Crewman and Truck Driver. Merlyn attained the rank of Private First Class and received the Good Conduct Medal before being discharged on October 20, 1957. He then went to work for Kuker Oil and Peter’s Oil Company.

On November 7, 1959, Merlyn was united in marriage with Beverly F. Dalgety at Sacred Heart Church in Manning. Three children were born to this couple. In 1964, he purchased the service station, Irlbeck Oil. They lived in south Manning until 1974 when they moved to the Irlbeck family farm south of Manning. In 1982, Merlyn went to work with Agri Industries, then Ag Processing, until retiring in 1991. During retirement he enjoyed driving school bus for IKM-Manning.

Merlyn was very active in the Manning community. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church where he served as eucharistic minister, usher, on the parish council, and catechism teacher. For 35 years, Merlyn served with the Manning Fire Department, being Fire Chief for 7 years. He held memberships with the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he served on the Honor Guard. He was once Jaycee of the year, President of the Manning Chamber of Commerce, and was crowned King at the 2006 Manning Quasquicentennial. Merlyn’s passion centered around his farm. He really enjoyed collecting antiques, signs, license plates, and toy tractors and showing them off in his Forgotten Corner Museum. He loved tinkering on all his tractors and going on tractor drives with the Old Iron Club. For many years, Merlyn had the best Christmas lights display in the area.

On Thursday, September 21, 2023, Merlyn passed away at Accura Healthcare of Manning. He was 87 years, 6 months, and 26 days of age.

Merlyn is survived by his wife Beverly Irlbeck of Manning; three children: Brian (Theresa) Irlbeck of Manning; Brett Irlbeck (Rhonda Szabo) of Granger; and Brenda (Terry) Sterk of Manning; 9 grandchildren: Jamie (Jeff) Blum; Bryce Irlbeck; Melissa (Travis) Riesberg; Michelle (Alex) Johnston; MaKayla Irlbeck; Jeremia (Elaine) Macumber; Terrence John "TJ" (Megan) Sterk; Tim (Alys) Sterk and Tracey (Jeremy) Bahl; 16 great-grandchildren: Annabelle, Evelyn, Josephine, Tucker, Justin, Blake, Landyn, Kyler, Theo, Lane, Ashton, Adrian, Eliana, Claire, Emmett and Logan; sisters Elaine Dammann of Minnesota and Joyce Nelson of Arizona; brother-in-law Ken Loats of Tennessee; and sisters-in-law Diane Genzen and Kay (Duane) Otto, all of Manning; nieces, nephews, other relatives and lots of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Ron (Catherine) Irlbeck and Floyd Irlbeck; sister Patricia Loats; Bev’s parents David and Selma (Vetter) Dalgety; and a brother-in-law Daryl Genzen.

Ohde Funeral Home, Manning, Iowa in charge of arrangements: www.ohdefuneralhome.com