Merlyn Lopau
Merlyn Wayne Lopau, 72, Luverne, died Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at his home.
A memorial gathering will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, at the Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. (Note change in date due to weather.)
Merlyn Lopau was born Aug. 24, 1943, to Milton and Florence (Graphenteen) Lopau at Ashton Memorial Hospital in Pipestone. He graduated from Lake Benton in 1961.
On April 9, 1963, he married Alene “Lynn” McCallum at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They lived in Pipestone where Merlyn worked for Lange Hardware installing heating and air conditioning. In 1965 they joined Lynn’s dad and brother John in operating M&M Distributing Company in Luverne. They continued to run the business until selling it in October 2008. Merlyn worked part time for the new owners, Bomgaars.
Merlyn was a past elder at the Presbyterian Church in Luverne. He was a charter member of the Eagles Club in Luverne. He was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of directors for the Rock County Historical Society and was a member of the Luverne Fire Department for over 20 years.
Merlyn was passionate about horses. He was a leader in the 4-H Saddle Club and served as a mentor to many horse enthusiasts. He was president and delegate for the Southwest Trail Riders. He volunteered for Sanford Luverne Hospital, working in the Healing Garden and assisting with the Bloodmobile.
Merlyn is survived by his wife, Lynn; their children, Beth Lopau, Owatonna, and Scott Lopau, Pipestone; two grandchildren, Jessica (Eric) Johnson, Mankato, and Halie Lopau, Luverne; two great-grandchildren, Brayden and Dylan Johnson; his siblings, Barb (Tom) Feuerhelm, Madison, South Dakota, Karen (Rich) Johnson, Slayton, Ron Lopau, Raton, New Mexico, Rita (Dale) VonArb, Spring, Texas, Randy (Donna) Lopau, Canby, Steve (Linda) Lopau, Preston, Arlyn (Julie) Lopau, Dawson, Mark (Melissa) Lopau, Dover, and Jolene Lopau, St. Leo; three sisters-in-law, Sandy Lopau, Pipestone, Sharon Lopau, Lake Benton, and Gay Lopau; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Delwyn, David and Edward Lopau.
Arrangements were by Hartquist Funeral Home, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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