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Merle Andrew Blong

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Birth	:	12 Dec 1934 Saint Lucas, Fayette County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	11 Nov 2020 Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, USA
Burial	:	Saint Lukes Catholic Cemetery, Saint Lucas, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.0660000, -91.9296000
Description	:	Merle Andrew Blong passed away on the morning of November 11, 2020, after a struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and the rapid onset of the COVID-19 virus. Merle was born on December 12, 1933 in St. Lucas, Iowa to parents Luke John Blong and Agnes Ann Ditzenbach. His family lived and farmed east of St. Lucas in the Driftless Area near the confluence of Bass Creek with Sugar Creek. This beautiful landscape was historically part of the Winnebago Indian Subagency in the 1840s. Merle attended St. Luke’s School from 1938 to 1946. He was a... Read More	Merle Andrew Blong passed away on the morning of November 11, 2020, after a struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and the rapid onset of the COVID-19 virus. Merle was born on December 12, 1933 in St. Lucas, Iowa to parents Luke John Blong and Agnes Ann Ditzenbach. His family lived and farmed east of St. Lucas in the Driftless Area near the confluence of Bass Creek with Sugar Creek. This beautiful landscape was historically part of the Winnebago Indian Subagency in the 1840s. Merle attended St. Luke’s School from 1938 to 1946. He was a very hard worker and enjoyed working on the farm. Merle was at his best while performing outdoor tasks instead of going to school. Merle’s greatest enjoyments were hunting, fishing, and observing wildlife. Merle loved the natural beauty of the Mississippi River region. Merle eventually purchased land on the Mississippi River near Twin Bluffs and built a beautiful A-frame home that he called Twin Oaks. Merle’s escape was spending many long hours on his deck watching nature on the river. Merle enjoyed fishing almost daily, either from his boat or from the dock. After long hours of working, Merle enjoyed watching Major League Baseball. Merle grew up playing softball and baseball. His favorite team was the Los Angeles Dodgers and was a life- long Dodgers fan. A big highlight in his life was in 1955 when the Dodgers finally beat the Yankees in the World Series. As a newly married man in 1955, Merle was a hard worker at the Rath Packing Company and later at John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo, IA. These jobs were Merle’s bread and butter income to raise his family, but he had bigger plans of becoming a business owner. Merle started Blong’s Tree Service as a part-time business in New Hampton, IA. Merle’s strong determination and rambunctious approach to life helped his tree service business grow quickly. In 1967 Merle moved his family to Winona, MN, where he grew his business base and rapidly expanded Blong’s Tree Service. Merle’s strong work ethic and dedication led to the 60 years of success for his business. Merle’s business grew and so did his renown as a tree expert. Merle worked extremely difficult tree removal jobs and prided himself on his ability to work many different challenging local, state and utility tree service jobs in the Upper Mississippi River region. Merle also participated in the biannual American Arborist Association volunteer effort to trim trees and shrubs at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Merle, assisted by his brothers Glenn and Clair, enjoyed this volunteer service to honor the nation’s military veterans buried there. Merle loved his church in Winona. His strong faith in the Lord was evident. Merle took pride in arriving early at church after long hours of work to attend Mass on Saturday afternoons at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Winona, MN. Merle loved to travel and took cruises or trips to Florida, the Panama Canal, Mexico and Alaska. His last major trip was in January 2018 with his son Dana and brothers Clair and Glenn, to various Caribbean islands and Cuba. Merle’s love for nature was evident in his trout pond and his desire to someday live in the wilderness of Alaska. His desire to work outdoors and see the countryside and wildlife was his daily enjoyment. Merle is survived by his children, Debra Burke of Winona, Darcy (Kim) O’Laughlin of Minnesota City, Dana (Vickie) Blong of Winona, and Darla Heimer of Winona. Merle’s grandchildren include: Logan Burke, Kristin Rodgers, Kyle O’Laughlin, Corey O’Laughlin, Natasha Blong, Tanner Blong, Dustin Heimer and Dylan Blong, and his ten great-grandchildren. Merle is survived by his sister, Phyllis (Richard) Orthaus of New Hampton, Iowa, brother Clair Blong of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, and Glenn (Jane) Blong of Marco Island, Florida. Merle was preceded in death by his parents, Luke and Agnes Blong, brother Clyde Blong, his former wife, Rose Marie Panoch Blong, grandson, Ian Burke and great-grandson, Quinn Burke. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 20, 2020 from 3 pm to 6 pm at Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home at 376 E. Sarnia St., Winona, MN 55987. Those attending will be required to wear a mask and to follow social distancing guidelines. At a later date, a memorial mass and burial service will be held at St. Luke’s Church and Cemetery in St. Lucas, Iowa.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Merle Andrew Blong's memorial?
Merle Andrew Blong's memorial is located at: Saint Lukes Catholic Cemetery, Saint Lucas, Fayette County, USA.
When did Merle Andrew Blong death?
Merle Andrew Blong death on 11 Nov 2020 in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Merle Andrew Blong's memorial?
Latitude: 43.0660000
Longitude: -91.9296000

Family Members:

Parent

Luke John Blong

(1909 - 1965)

Agnes A. Dietzenbach Blong

(1913 - 1994)

Siblings

Clyde J. Blong

(1942 - 1952)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Lukes Catholic Cemetery
Saint Lucas, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0660000, -91.9296000

2. Eden Cemetery
Waucoma, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0308960, -91.9622370

3. Eden Cemetery
Saint Lucas, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0307999, -91.9621964

4. Saint Anthony of Padua Chapel Cemetery
Festina, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0996000, -91.8935000

5. Young Cemetery
Washington Township, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1102982, -91.9131012

6. Dover Township Cemetery
Dover Township, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0708008, -91.8392029

7. Oak Ridge Cemetery
Auburn Township, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0155983, -91.8683014

8. Saint Petr Kirchof
Eldorado, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0572014, -91.8352966

9. Saint Marys Cemetery
Waucoma, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0583000, -92.0255966

10. Waucoma Cemetery
Waucoma, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0586014, -92.0271988

11. Saint Marys Cemetery
Festina, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1205000, -91.8658000

12. Oak Lawn Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9986000, -91.9666977

13. Oak Hill Cemetery
Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1397018, -91.9353027

14. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1425018, -91.9238968

15. Pitts Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9900017, -91.9708023

16. Saint Peters Cemetery
Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1474991, -91.9405975

17. Saint James German Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1478000, -91.9408000

18. Boale Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9935700, -91.8451900

19. Windsor Cemetery
Hawkeye, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9644012, -91.9225006

20. Saint Rose Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0786018, -92.0678024

21. Alpha Cemetery
Alpha, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0057983, -92.0428009

22. Bethel Cemetery
Hawkeye, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9803009, -92.0218964

23. George Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0346985, -91.7818985

24. First Lutheran Church Cemetery
Military Township, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0897000, -91.7775000