Merlin Petersen

Merlin M. Petersen, 89, of Iron Mountain, formerly of Pembine, Wis., passed away on Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, at ManorCare Health Services in Kingsford. He was born on Aug. 26, 1921, in Niagara, Wis., son of the late Theodore and May (Moore) Petersen. Merlin worked on the family farm at a young age. From 1946 to 1969, he ran a coal and excavating company. He then worked at the White Pine Copper Mine reclaiming slag until his retirement in 1978. Merlin married Arlene Mae Bolander on April 26, 1946, in Marinette, and had celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in April of this year. Merlin loved to be busy working in the woods cutting firewood. He spent much of his time making pickeroons for his lumber company called the "Hardly Able Lumber Co." until 1998 when he broke his hip and was housebound. Merlin is survived by his loving wife of more than 65 years, Arlene Petersen of Iron Mountain; children, Lucille (Bill) Gehling of Cottage Grove, Ore., Irene (Mike) Badini of Iron Mountain, and Harold (Cheryl) Petersen of Buck Lake, Crystal Falls; grandchildren, Debbie Williams, Dianne Gehling, Craig Gehling, Shelly Brunner, Trisha Brunner, Tara Petersen, and Aaron Petersen; great-grandchildren, Kalline Barnes, Katline LeSage, Bella Amezcua, and Isaiah Williams; nieces and nephews, Nancy Marcell, Carolyn Schow, Wayne and Neil Jordon, Rickey, and Todd, and Scott Bolander; two brothers-in-law, Donald (Diane) Bolander and James (Sandy) Bolander; sisters-in-law, Ruth Bolander and Jane Bolander Gray; and a special friend, William Stevens of Pembine. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kristin Gehling; sisters, Jean and Lorraine Jordon; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Wilbur and Ida Bolander; and brothers-in-law, Leroy Bolander, Garth Jorden and Virgil Jordon. A graveside service will be announced later this fall. Burial will be in the Pembine Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to the Pembine Rescue Squad. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Merlin M. Petersen online at ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Homes of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Merlin Petersen

August 26, 1921 - August 15, 2011