Merlin Daniel Lammers
FREMONT — Merlin Daniel Lammers, 72, Fremont, formerly of the Hartington area, died Feb. 9, 2022, at the Veterans Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Feb. 18, at 10:30 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Fordyce, with the Rev. Jim Keiter officiating.
Military rites will be held outside of church following the Mass, conducted by the Hartington VFW Post #5283.
Burial of his cremated remains will be at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Fordyce, in the future. Pallbearers will be Curtis Lammers, Michael Lammers, Bob Steffen, Ron Steffen, Keith Becker and Gayle Becker. Honorary pallbearers will be Merlin’s sons and sons-in-law.
Honorary pallbearers will be Merlin’s sons and sons-in-law.
Visitation with his body present will be Feb. 17, at church, 6-8 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Friday, at church, one hour prior to services.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.
Merlin was born on Feb. 15, 1949, the sixth of nine children, to Hugo and Hildegard (Arens) Lammers, Hartington. He attended Cedar Catholic High School in Hartington, and graduated in 1967. After graduation he went on to achieve an associate degree of applied science at Southern State College, Springfield, S.D., in 1969.
After graduating from college, he entered the military, serving in the Army from April 21, 1970 to Dec. 9, 1971, where he was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. Upon completing two years of service, Merlin returned to Cedar County, began a career in farming, and met his wife, Patricia Jo McCance, at St. Helena’s dance hall. They married Oct. 25, 1980, in Fordyce. They had eight children that they raised on the farm near Pleasant Valley.
Merlin enjoyed hunting, fishing, taking camping trips, tending his garden and watching his children grow (in their understanding of Pinochle). Any spare time was spent crafting woodworking projects that he often gifted to his children. Merlin also enjoyed taking his children snow skiing.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Lammers, Fremont; his eight children, Jennifer (Brad) DeSaye, Prescott, Ariz.; Celeste (Michael) Harris, Omaha; Angela (Joshua) Harper, Omaha; Benedict Lammers, Fremont; Lenora (Denny) Losse, Norfolk; Dominic Lammers, Phoenix, Ariz.; Philomena Lammers, Prescott, Ariz.; Serena Lammers, Omaha; his five grandchildren; his sister, Mary Jean (Jerry) Steffen, Crofton; his brother, Alan (Carol) Lammers, Hartington; his brother, Darrell (Jean) Lammers, Hartington; his sister, Anita Kneifl, Sioux Falls, S.D.; his brother, David (Lori) Lammers, Hartington; and sister-in-law, Marcella Lammers, Yankton, S.D.
He was preceded in death by three miscarried children, Pat, Bobby and Patience; his parents, Hugo and Hildegard Lammers; brothers, Marvin and Vernon Lammers; sister, Denelda Becker; and parents-in-law, Bill and Jo McCance.