Merlin Russell Brockmann

Merlin Russell Brockmann, age 92, of Carroll, IA, and formerly of Westside, IA, passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022 at Unity Point - Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, IA.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, August 22, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia with Pastor Ben Dose officiating.  Casket bearers will be members of American Legion Alfred Rossman Post 196 of Westside. Honorary casket bearers will be grandchildren Sarah Harkin, Hannah Feller, Melissa Brockmann, Stephanie Brockmann, and Amanda Wertz. Burial will be in the Westside Cemetery with military honors by the Iowa National Guard and American Legion Alfred Rossman Post 196 of Westside.

Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll from 5 – 7 P.M. on Sunday.  The casket will be moved to Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia at 9:30 A.M. on Monday where visitation will resume until 10:15 A.M.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to American Legion Alfred Rossman Post 196 in Westside or Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Merlin was born on May 14, 1930 in Carroll, IA; he was the son of Walter and Minnie (Weller) Brockmann. He was raised on the family farm southeast of Westside, attended Washington Township Country School through eighth grade, and graduated from Westside High School in 1947. He farmed with his father and helped neighboring farmers until being drafted into the US Army in 1952. He served two years, mostly in Korea, assigned to a field artillery unit and attaining the rank of sergeant. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two battle stars, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal for his service.  Following his military service, he returned home and resumed farming. On November 21, 1954 he married Beverly Dixon and they raised their children on the family farm. He spent the great majority of his life working in agriculture. In addition to farming, he would later work for Cal-Car Service Company in Westside, then FS Services in Storm Lake, serving local farmers with their agricultural needs, as well as helping as a farmhand for Laurence Schroeder. Merlin was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia where he was baptized, confirmed and married; he moved to Carroll in 2012 upon the passing of Beverly. He enjoyed family picnics, county fairs, military history, watching football and, especially, scenic drives across the country to see his children and their families wherever they lived. He felt honored to participate in the 2015 Brushy Creek Honor Flight to Washington DC, and he was a lifetime member of American Legion Alfred Rossman Post 196 in Westside as well as Veterans of Foreign Wars Manning Post 3517 in Manning.

Merlin is survived by two sons, Mark and his wife Denise of Opelousas, LA; Cory and his wife Catherine of Beaverton, OR; and a daughter Ellen McDaris and her husband John of Gulf Breeze, FL; grandchildren Sarah Harkin, Hannah Feller, Melissa Brockmann, Stephanie Brockmann, and Amanda Wertz; and, great-grandchildren Neal Wertz, Owen Feller, and Oliver Tyykila.

Merlin was preceded in death by his wife Beverly, infant daughter Lori, son Russell, and daughter DeeAnn, as well as, his parents Walter and Minnie, father and mother-in-law James and Lillie (Segebart) Dixon, and his sister, Lois.