Merlen Herman Buchholz, 77, died Thursday, Dec. 12, at Community Memorial Hospital, Sumner.

He was born Sept. 6, 1936, in Delhi, son of Herman and Florence Meinres Buchholz. He married Thelma Buck Buchholz on Oct. 11, 1958, in Littleton.

He worked at Rath Packing, Waterloo, and was also a farmer. He later was a semi driver for Fredericksburg Co-op. 

Merlen is survived by his wife, Thelma of Sumner; four sons, Gordon of Mason City, Mike (Paula) of Parkersburg, Allen of Sumner and Gary of Waterloo; four grandchildren, Lindsey, Amanda, Peyton and Joshua; a sister, Hazel Hamblin of Jesup; and a brother, Marvin (Vonna) of Beloit, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Kathleen; two sisters, Marion Wenger and Melba Bearbower; and three brothers-in-law, Duane (Marion) Wenger, Wesley (Hazel) Hamblin and Bill (Melba) Bearbower.

Visitation will be held from4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner. Inurnment will be at a later date at Littleton Cemetery in Littleton, Iowa.