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Merlyn Niedens passed away
I received information this afternoon from Randel at Baker Creek Seed about Merlyns death. I am passing it along so you will be thinking of Merlyn and his family.
This is the first news I have had on Merlyn. And I am saddened! I talked with him this past weekend for about an hour. He was my mentor and friend! Oh, when we visited by telephone we lost all sense of time! The both of us have had similar health issues and shared and supported one another for a long time. We were planning to see one another in October when he and Mary Ann were coming to Kentucky.
Each year I have shared with him the best of my best seed/plants which he grew and determined whether or not to share it with the folks at Baker Creek and Southern Exposure. Merlyn leaves a legacy to be cherished by all gardeners.
Merlyn was truly devoted to his faith and lived a life of faith. I will miss my talks with him but most of all I will miss a dear friend!
Gary
Merlyn D. Niedens
Date Of Death: 06/05/2009
Visitation: Friends may call at the Campagna Funeral Home of Okawville, Il. on Monday from 4 P.M. until 8 P.M. and on Tuesday from 7:30 A.M. until 9 A.M. and thereafter at the church from 10 A.M. until the hour of services.
Services: Funeral services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Okawville on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Darwin Schrader officiating with interment in the Ebenezer Cemetery in rural Okawville.
Memorials: Should friends desire, memorial contributions to the SAFE fund, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, may offered and will be accepted by the Campagna Funeral Home.
Mr. Merlyn D. Niedens, of Rural Okawville, departed this life at the Emergency Room of the Washington Country Hospital in Nashville, Il. on Friday, June 5, 2009 at 3:41 P.M. after a sudden illness. He had attained the age of 74 years, 7 months, and 12 days. Mr. Niedens was born at LaCrosse, Kansas on October 23, 1934 the son of Jacob and Elma (Nuss) Niedens. Merlyn was Baptized on December 9, 1934 and Confirmed on May 23, 1948 at Emannels Lutheran Church in Bazine, Kansas. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Jacobs at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Okawville, Il. on December 13, 1958 and she survives his passing. Mr. Niedens attended St. John’s College and later graduated from Concordia Teachers College at River Forest, Illinois with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Merlyn was an Administrator for the Illinois Department of Mental Health for many years until retirement. He also was a teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School from 1956 until 1960. Merlyn was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Okawville, Il. , were he served as an Elder of the church and President of the Immanuel Alumni Association. He was a lifetime member of “Seed Savers”. Left to mourn his passing is his wife, Mary Ann Niedens of Okawville, Il., a son, David Niedens of Bolingbrook, Il., a daughter, Sarah Niedens, Okawville, Il., a sister, Rosalie Klokkenga (Harm) of Peoria, Il., 3 sisters-in-law, LouAnn Moeller (Bruce) of Shelton, Washington, Esther Klug (John) Fennville, Michigan, and Darlene Jacobs of San Diego, Ca., a brother-in-law, Kenneth Jacobs (Pattie) of Okawville, Il., nieces, nephews, other relation and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, Harry and Irene Jacobs.
Campagna Funeral Homes - Welcome to our website!
Welcome to The Campagna Funeral Homes website. ... Nashville, Illinois (618) 327-8111, Okawville, Illinois (618) 243-5565, Ashley, Illinois (618) 485-2311 ... http://www.campagnafuneralhomes.com/
Merlyn Niedens passed away
Merlyn’s nephew Toby shares additional information -------
“Hope this answers some questions:
It truly has been special to read these posts since the death of my uncle (Merlyn).
He was truly a special person who was involved in many different areas. From serving as an elder at his church, the alumni association at the school / church, his love of reading about history and of course his gardening.
”The visitation was this past Monday and funeral on Tuesday. Again it was wonderful to visit with the many people that knew him either from the church community, his neighbors or from gardening.
My uncle passed away last Friday while working in his garden, of course working on his tomatoes. He was doing what he loved when he passed away. And knowing my uncle that is the way he wanted to go. He had had some health concerns from the past ( a massive heart attack about 10 years ago and cancer about 4 years ago) but he was doing pretty well. Considering the severity of the heart attack, he amazed everyone on his recovery. But, from my understanding from my Aunt Mary that he past away of a heart attack / heart failure.
”My aunt is doing ok under the circumstances, still a little shocked... as we all are.
Her and I got a chance to walk through their gardens on Tuesday after the funeral. My uncle had told me that when they had moved to southern Illinois that he had down sized his gardens. I joked w/ my aunt " this is down size?" (There is about 1/2 to 3/4 of an acre of various gardens on their property.) Now that I think about it, I think he said that with a slight grin on his face. She told me she is going to try to do the best she can on trying to work on this year's garden and get as many seeds as she can. But will discontinue with number of gardens that they had done in the past.
My uncle had a very strong faith in Jesus (his Savior) and anything that he was involved, he used that to share his faith (especially in his gardening). And I am sure when he met the Master Gardener, He said " will done my faithful servant."
He will be sorely missed by his family, church and community.”
ps
”One other item, his (and my aunt's) head stone at the cemetary is one of the most beatiful stones I have ever seen. It is an engraved husband and wife working in their gardens. He was very proud of that headstone that he and my aunt had made several years ago. It is a very fitting tribute.”
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