Merle Wilken , 80, of Le Mars, Iowa died Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Good Samaritan Society after a 9-year battle with multiple myeloma.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Craig, Iowa. Reverend Trish Underberg will officiate. Burial will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Craig. Visitation with the family present will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa.  Visitation will resume from 9:00 a.m. until service time on Wednesday at the church.  Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars.  Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .

Merle Arthur Wilken was born December 22, 1940 in Le Mars, Iowa the son of Arthur and Lucile (Winterfeld) Wilken. He grew up in rural Akron, graduating from Le Mars Community High School in 1959. Merle married Ilo Jean Brownmiller May 25, 1962. Together they made their home in the Craig area. They moved to the family farm in 1977 and to Le Mars in 2012.

Over the years, Merle worked as a parts manager at Ford, did construction, was a bookkeeper at BT Inc., and was always busy farming the land and working with his hog buildings. Merle was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Craig. He loved spending time at his lake home at Okoboji, hunting, fishing, camping and doing anything the grandchildren were busy with. Merle had a love for classic cars. If you have one, please bring it for the ride to the cemetery.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jeanie Wilken of Le Mars; 2 daughters, Lisa (John) Erdmann of Moville, Iowa, Amy (Gabe) Davis of Le Mars, Iowa; 7 grandchildren, Kayla (Kyle) Foelske of Akron, Ben Erdmann of Sioux City, Blake Erdmann of Sioux City, Jessica (Josh) Wilkins of Sioux City and  Allison Wilken of Le Mars and their mother, Julia Wilken-Ott,  Kyndal Davis of Le Mars and Kemper Davis of Le Mars, Iowa; 2 great-grandchildren, Adalee and Abel Foelske; Brother-in-law, Dan (LaVonne) Brownmiller of Le Mars, Eldon Bray of Le Mars, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Joyce Brownmiller of Le Mars, Iowa and Pam Brownmiller of Le Mars.

He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Scott Wilken; brothers-in-law, Jim Brownmiller and Tim Brownmiller, sisters-in-law, Kathy Bray, Margaret (Doug) Gaul.