Funeral services for Merlin Heller age 83 of Beemer, NE will be held on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Beemer, NE with Pastor Ryan Seymour officiating. Interment will be in the Beemer Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Beemer, NE. Visitation will continue on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Minnick Funeral Home in West Point is in charge of handling the arrangements for the family.

Merlin passed away on Monday, February 26, 2018 at his home in Beemer, NE.

Merlin Oscar Heller was born on January 14, 1935, south of Wisner, NE, to Oscar and Laura (Besmer) Heller. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, south of Wisner, NE. Merlin attended Zion Lutheran School until the 8th Grade and helped on the family farm until he was 16 years old.

On November 7, 1954, he was united in marriage to Betty Lou Liermann at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Beemer, NE. The couple lived in Beemer, NE, where he worked for Farmer’s Elevator and Peet’s Feed in Beemer. He later worked with his brother-in-law Art Rabe doing masonry work and then went out on his own in the masonry business. Merlin ran the maintainer for Logan Township for over 20 years.

Merlin was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beemer, NE, was a great supporter of the Beemer Booster Club, he loved attending all his grandchildren’s school events. He thought the world of his kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Merlin’s highlight in his retirement was golfing.

He is survived by his wife Betty of 63 years
Son-Merle and Mindi Heller of Phoenix, AZ and family-
Ben (Amy) Heller and daughter-Illa
Megan (Martin) Herrera and daughter-Madelyn
Daughter-Mary Heller and Mike Marksmeier of Beemer, NE and daughter-
Heidi Marksmeier
Daughter- Brenda and Bert Paulsen of West Point, NE and family-
Tyler (Brea) Paulsen and children-Nolan, Piper & Briar
Jennifer (Randy) Jakubowski and children- Jace & Alivia
Sisters- Lucille Luedke of Wisner, NE
Renata Birky of Cherokee, IA
Marion Christensen of Fremont, NE
Beverly Kindschuh of Norfolk, NE
LaVina Flowers of Wisner, NE
Betty Lou Lines of Omaha, NE
Ruth English of Chattanooga, TN
Janet English of Beemer, NE
Karen Young of Rawlings, WY
Sister-in-law-Evelyn Heller of Wisner, NE

Merlin was preceded in death by his parents, brother-Melvern (Butch) Heller, grandson-Matthew Heller and granddaughter-Amanda Heller.