Merle Lester Thomssen

Visitation

Sunday, January 27, 2008

After 3:30 PM

Ohde Funeral Home

 Manilla, Iowa

Funeral Services

Monday, January 28, 2008, 10:30 AM

Trinity Lutheran Church

 Manilla, Iowa

Officiating

Reverend Paul Frank

Music

 What a Friend We Have in Jesus?

The Old Rugged Cross?  

How Great Thou Art?

Amazing Grace?

Congregation

Susan Lamb, Accompanist

Casketbearers

Jeff Muhlbauer     Gary Keesling   

 Eddy Dahleen     LeRoy Lingle  

James Christensen     Brent Thomssen    

Eli Maynard    

Harold Jurgensen     Gerald Jurgensen

Interment

Manning Cemetery,

Manning, Iowa

   Merle Lester, son of Claus and Emma (Kai) Thomssen, was born June 9, 1919, on a farm in Shelby County.  The family lived on the Carlyle farm place. Merle was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning and attended country school through the eighth grade.

   Merle worked for various farmers as a young man.  From 1937 to 1948 he farmed a half section of land near Manilla, and then farmed his mothers eighty acres for the next fifty years.  Merle did mechanical work on tractors and machinery on the farm and raised ducks, geese, goats and cattle.

   Merle helped paint buildings, especially country school houses.  He played drums in a band for many years at dances.  Those who knew Merle knew he was a great cook and baker.  He often had friends and neighbors stopping in for coffee and frequently for meals.  He especially liked to bake bread and use his home-made bread to make sweet dressing for his duck dinners.  Merle also canned and repaired sewing machines.  On Saturdays, Merle could be found enjoying himself at the sale barn. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla.

   Merle became a resident of the Manilla Manor on June 24, 1998, when his health began to fail.  While a resident there, Merle enjoyed drawing, especially school buses, and visiting other residents.  Everyone enjoyed his sense of humor.  Merle passed away at the Manor on January 25, 2008, at the age of 88 years, 7 months and 16 days.

   Preceding Merle in death are his parents; his brother Henry Thomssen, sister Verna Jurgensen and nephew Larry Thomssen.

   He is survived by his sister Estella and her husband Lester Schrum of Manilla; nieces: Darlyne and husband Eddy Dahleen, Rose Ann Thomssen, Judy and husband LeRoy Lingle, Jean and husband James Christensen, Debbie and husband Gary Keesling, Alice Malone and Hazel Beam; nephews Harold and wife Marjorie Jurgensen and Gerald and wife Pam Jurgensen; other relatives and many friends.