Merlin C. Hauch

Merlin Clarence Hauch, 91, of Watervliet passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville, with family at his side.

Merlin was born on July 27, 1932, in Benton Harbor to Clarence and Lena (Biastock) Hauch. He was a lifelong area resident and married to his high school sweetheart, Jackie, for 72 years.

Merlin spent most of his life running Nature Blessed Orchards, a centennial farm recognized as being continuously owned by a single family for 100 years or more. He worked alongside family, farming primarily apples, peaches, cherries and strawberries. He received a soil conservation farmer award in 1967. He later worked at Coloma Frozen Foods Inc., retiring at age 84.

He served on the board of directors for Coloma Frozen Foods and its predecessor, Coloma Co-operative Canning. He was president of the Berrien County Horticultural Society and a member of the Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association. He also participated in Toastmasters International. As a longtime member of the Coloma school board, Merlin presented his children and a future son-in-law with their diplomas and ensured all four children would go on to college. He was active on the board of St. Paul's United Church of Christ for many years.

Through the very end of his life, Merlin thrived on working in his gardens, wielding electric trimmers and willing his sunflowers to grow taller. He relished homemade desserts, especially à la mode, and let the kids raid his candy cupboard. He could often be seen at community sporting events when his children and grandchildren were playing – and even when they weren't. He meticulously recorded years of stats in little black notebooks kept in his shirt pocket. He was a longtime Indianapolis 500 ticket holder, and went on annual deer-hunting trips up north with family and friends. In later years, he didn't even bring a gun; he just enjoyed the company.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jacquelyn (Weber) Hauch, less than two months earlier; brothers: Creston Hauch and Eugene Hauch; a son and daughter-in-law: Timothy Hauch and Tina (Hauch) Lentz; and a granddaughter, Noel Hauch.

He is survived by his children: Cheryl (Robert) Reinhardt, Kevin (Denise) Hauch and Sandra (Robert) Herman; grandchildren: Kara (Taylor) Henshaw, Matthew (Adrien) Reinhardt, Ross (Ella) Reinhardt, Charity (Bill) Collins, George (Monica) Hauch, Jackie (Bobby) Edelberg, Jarrod Hauch, Erin (Chris) Charon, Chad (Jo) Herman, Mary (Jordan) Cluster, Christopher (Ashley) Hauch, Allie (Cole) Andrews and Eric Hauch; 23 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet is assisting Merlin's family with arrangements.

His life will be celebrated on his birthday, Saturday, July 27, at 2 p.m. at St. Paul's United Church of Christ. In remembrance, donations may be made to St. Paul's United Church of Christ or Caring Circle Hospice of Corewell Health Lakeland, St. Joseph.