Mervin was inducted into the U.S. Air Force on January 27, 1953. He took training in Jet Mechanics and served in Amarillo, Texas, Korea, and Rapid City, South Dakota. He was discharged on January 26, 1957 with the grade of A/1C.
Visitation was held Friday, March 9, 2012, from 5 PM to 7:30 PM at
Zion Lutheran Church in Manning.
In Loving Memory Of Mervin W. Christensen 1933 - 2012
Funeral Service where Saturday, March 10, 2012, 10:30 AM Zion Lutheran Church, Manning,
Iowa
Officiating Reverend Jonathan Conner Congregational
Hymns "I know That My Redeemer Lives" "Amazing Grace" "How Great Thou Art" "Eternal
Father, Strong To Save"
Carlys Stribe, Organist
Casketbearers Nathan Stangl, Patrick Haney, Kenneth Klemish, Todd Lambertson, Monty
Christensen, Joey Christensen, Mindy Douglas
Honorary Casketbearers Grandchildren: Nicole Stangl, Breann
Haney, Courtney Haney, Martin Christensen; Friends: David Rohe Melvin Meier, James
Rasmussen, Jerry Rasmussen, Kenny Spies, Kurt Stribe
Interment Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa.
Mervin Walter, son of Walter and Marie (Juhler) Christensen, was born February 10, 1933, on the family farm near Wiota, Iowa. On March 26, 1933, he was baptized, and on April 5, 1948, he was confirmed in Christ at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic.
He grew up in Wiota and graduated from Wiota High School where he excelled in basketball and baseball. Mervin then bagged feed for Walnut Grove Products in Atlantic.
In January of 1953, Mervin enlisted in the United States Air Force. On June 3, 1953, Mervin was united in marriage with Sondra Lee Bell in Clovis, New Mexico. Mervin was stationed at El Paso, Texas; Japan; Formosa, Korea and Rapid City, South Dakota as a jet mechanic, with the rank of Airman 1st Class. Sondra was able to be with him during his time in the service with the exception of when he was overseas. After receiving his honorable discharge in 1957, Mervin and Sondra lived for a short time in Wisconsin, the family then returned to Iowa and living in Sheldon and Denison where he continued working for Walnut Grove Feeds before settling in Manning in 1965. For 18 years, they owned and operated Chris's Dairy Sweet. Mervin then drove truck for the Manning Ag Center and worked as a yard man for Rasmussen Lumber Company. He worked part-time at Spies Fur, while driving school bus for several years.
Mervin enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. He especially enjoyed following Manning High School activities and sports. He cherished watching his children and grandchildren participate in their activities. He was a lifetime member of the Manning Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517 and a member of the American Legion Emil Ewoldt Post 22.
In 2005, Mervin suffered a stroke and became a resident of the Manilla Manor Nursing Home in Manilla. On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, Mervin died at Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning, Iowa. He was seventy-nine years of age.
Mervin is survived by his three children: Starre Haney and husband William of Mesa, Arizona; Renee Stangl and husband Dale of Manning and Michael Christensen of Lake City; grandchildren: Patrick Haney and wife Lisa, Breann Haney and husband Levi Oman, Courtney Haney and fiancee Paul Ku, Nathan Stangl and wife Stacy, Nicole Stangl and Martin Christensen; great-grandchildren: Benjamin Stangl, Brooke Stangl and Lucy Starre Oman; sisters: Mildred Klemish of Anita; Mardelle Maley of Atlantic; and Maxine Lambertson of Atlantic; sisters-in-law: Sondra Sue Christensen of Elk Horn and Karen Bell of Anita; a brother-in-law Gary Wagner of Red Oak; and four AFS students: Johannes Plessing, Hans Heglan, Taryn Glasson and Mikkel Nordvig and by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Sondra, brother Milford Christensen, sister Margaret Wagner; brothers-in-law: Don Walter, Vernon Lambertson, Eugene Klemmish, Bob Maley, Robert Bell and wife Carol, Brad Bell; and a nephew Lynn Lambertson.
Johnson & Woodhouse Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.