Merlin Dunt

Merlin Paul Dunt, 86, of West Union, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union. 

Merlin, son of William and Agnes (Nemmers) Dunt, was born in Cresco, Iowa, on May 21, 1929. 

He graduated from Assumption High School in 1948. 

Merlin married Marjorie Quinn in Cresco in 1950, and together they raised eight children. 

He was united in marriage with Nancy Neuroth on February 11, 1989, at Bethel Presbyterian Church, West Union.

Merlin served in the Army in Korea from 1951 to 1953. 

He worked for Interstate Power Company for 42 years. 

He was a member of the West Union Jaycees, a member of the West Union Volunteer Fire Dept. for 37 years, was on the school board, and proudly served as mayor of West Union for 14 years. He was also a member of American Legion Post 15, and he volunteered at the West Union Rec Center mowing the lawn. 

Merlin loved West Union and was on the original task force for West Union to become a Main Street Community.

Merlin loved to stay busy.  He loved fishing, enjoyed wood projects, and doing Word Find books. He was also a rock hound and a collector of many things – rocks, marbles, insulators, watches and knives, to name a few. 

He especially loved spending time with family and friends, laughing and having fun, and his favorite thing was riding around in the Jeep with his best buddy, Charlie.

Merlin is survived by his wife, Nancy; eight children, Jack (Sue) Dunt of Washoe Valley, Nev., Mary Buenzow of Waseca, Minn., Bill (Joyce) Dunt of Sun Prairie, Wis., Brian (Kathy) Dunt of West Union, Steve (Linda) Dunt of Ossian, Dean (Jana) Dunt of Urbandale, Karen Kime of Sac City, and Ron (Krista) Dunt of Hampton; one sister, Maxine Davis of Spencer; 20 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren, sisters- and brothers-in-law Dave and Julie Aanes, and Kenny and Patti Mittelstadt; several nieces, nephews,  cousins; and a host of friends.

Merlin was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kenneth, and his wife, Delores Dunt; and a brother-in-law, Ben Davis.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union with a visitation one hour prior to service time at Burnham-Wood & S.K. Rogers Funeral Home in West Union. 

A public visitation was held 4-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, at Burnham-Wood & S.K. Rogers Funeral Home in West Union.

Burnham-Wood & S.K. Rogers Funeral Home of West Union was in charge of arrangements.        5u5