Merle L. Winkelman

1948 - 2011

Merle Lloyd Winkelman, son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and best friend passed away the evening of March 3, 2011, at their cabin in the woods by the river near North Pole.
Son of Lloyd and Dorothy Winkelman, Merle was born Feb. 6, 1948, in Jefferson, Iowa. He grew up working on the family dairy farm in Paton, Rippey and later the farm south of Perry. Along with the work involved in being the oldest son and the demands of farm life there were many opportunities found for merriment with time spent with family laughing and eating hot fudge ice cream.
At age 8, Merle became so ill that the country doctor in Grand Junction said "this boy needs to go to the hospital." When Merle told the story he said "Momma never left my side the entire week." This strength of family bonds symbolizes the man Merle grew to become.
While attending York College in Nebraska, Merle met and married Linda Russell. This started a 44-year adventure of building a friendship, and partnership through commitment and love.
Merle spent 32 years as a teacher and mentor touching many students lives from Little Falls, Minn., to Eielson Air Force Base. One of his first students at Little Falls High School moved to Alaska and her son was one of his students.
Farm life never left his blood, and he proudly drove his meticulously restored John Deere tractors in local parades. Throughout his life, Merle built and created numerous masterpieces in every medium from wood to paper. He truly is our "Made in America" man constructing a home filled with long- lasting treasures.
The dedication and love our quiet giant bestowed upon us will always be treasured and emulated for generations to come. Merle is our brother No. 1, our protector, our uncle Jake, our best friend and grandfather extraordinaire.  He is a great man whom we will miss terribly and love dearly all our days.
Merle was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy Jean and brother in-law, Michael Murphy.
He is survived by his loving wife Linda of North Pole; daughter and son-in-law, Mist D'June and Joshua Gussak and their sons, Andrew and Bretten Winkelman, of Fairbanks; son Matthew Pike of Idaho Falls, Idaho; father Lloyd Winkelman of Perry, Iowa; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and David Dvorak of Homer; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ken and Deb of Maple Grove, Minn., John and Judith of Auburn, Iowa and Brian and Christina of Indianola, Iowa; sister Marcia Murphy of Perry, Iowa; nephews and nieces and spouses, Roger and Misty Dvorak, Wendy and Perry Pruitt, Douglas and Erica Dvorak, Jeremy and Jennifer Winkelman, Rich and Tonya Jensen, Robert Winkelman and fiancee Noelle, Emily and Dan Ferneding, Tasha Winkelman, Ryan and Lisa Murphy, Danielle Murphy, Kade Winkelman and Kayla and Kelsey Schark; great-nephew and buddy Jake Ferneding; special great-nieces Callie and Kate Ferneding; and many other great-nieces and great-nephews in the Midwest and Alaska.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 12, at Northern Lights Church of Christ, 645 11th Ave., Fairbanks.
A service will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, March 18, at Church of Christ, 502 W. Walnut St., Ogden, Iowa.
Arrangements were entrusted to Fairbanks Funeral Home.