Merlyn C. Peterson

PETERSON, Merlyn C.
Of Kalamazoo, Michigan Died May 28, 2009 at Tendercare of Westwood. Merlyn was born September 30, 1916 in Mora, MN, the son of Walter and Loma Dickinson Peterson. He grew up in Minnesota and worked as a dairy farmer for several years. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and served as a radar operator in Germany. While in the military he met and married the former A. Juanita Bryant, his wife of 64 years, who survives. Prior to his retirement in 1982, Merlyn was employed for 30 years as a precision internal grinder at the Eaton Corporation. He was a past member of the Moose Lodge and was an avid fisherman in all seasons and enjoyed all of the outdoors, including hunting for deer, squirrels and bull frogs, snowmobiling, gardening. He enjoyed bowling in a league. Merlyn was preceded in death by his parents and 2 brothers, Joseph and Glenn and a sister Doris. Surviving are his wife Juanita of Kalamazoo; 2 daughters, Sharon Oppenhuizen of Kalamazoo and Shelia William Novess of Vicksburg; 3 grandchildren, Tracy Colonel Andrew McConachie of Huntsville, AL, Gerrit Oppenhuizen of Gobles and Elliot Novess of Vicksburg; several nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. with the Rev. James Dyke officiating. Interment in Mt. Ever-Rest Cemetery. Friends may meet the family on Sunday from 2-4 & 6-8 pm at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Merlyn's memory may be made to the Humane Society of Kalamazoo County. Please visit www.langelands.com to sign the online register book or leave a condolence to the family.