Merle Lester, son of Claus and Emma (Kai) Thomssen, was born June 9, 1919, on a farm in Shelby County. The family lived on the Carlyle farm place. Merle was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning and attended country school at Iowa No. 4 through the eighth grade.

Merle worked for various farmers as a young man. From 1937 to 1948 he farmed a half section of land near Manilla, and then farmed his mother's eighty acres for the next fifty years. Merle did mechanical work on tractors and machinery on the farm and raised ducks, geese, goats and cattle.

Merle helped paint buildings, especially country school houses. He played drums in a band for many years at dances. Those who knew Merle knew he was a great cook and baker. He often had friends and neighbors stopping in for coffee and frequently for meals. He especially liked to bake bread and use his home-made bread to make sweet dressing for his duck dinners. Merle also canned and repaired sewing machines. On Saturdays, Merle could be found enjoying himself at the sale barn. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla.

Merle became a resident of the Manilla Manor on June 24, 1998, when his health began to fail. While a resident there, Merle enjoyed drawing, especially school buses, and visiting other residents. Everyone enjoyed his sense of humor. Merle passed away at the Manor on January 25, 2008, at the age of 88 years, 7 months, and 16 days.

Burial was in Manning Cemetery.

Preceding Merle in death are his parents; his brother Henry Thomssen, sister Verna Jurgensen and nephew Larry Thomssen.

He is survived by his sister Estella and her husband Lester Schrum of Manilla; nieces: Darlyne and husband Eddy Dahleen, Rose Ann Thomssen, Judy and husband LeRoy Lingle, Jean and husband James Christensen, Debbie and husband Gary Keesling, Alice Malone and Hazel Beam; nephews Harold and wife Marjorie Jurgensen and Gerald and wife Pam Jurgensen; other relatives and many friends.