Merlin D. Wendland
Merlin Duane Wendland, 91, passed away in his home, February 12, 2020.
Merlin was born in Waumandee, to Otto and Stella (Krause) Wendland, February 18, 1928. He spent many of his early years working on the family farm and visiting his grandpa Bill’s farm on Nelson Ridge. The family moved to the town of Cochrane in the late 1930s. Merlin’s mother, Stella, passed away when he was 12. His father, Otto, as a single parent of four children, worked hard at multiple jobs.
When Merlin was 16, he worked on the tow boats on the Mississippi River. In 1945, at the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and got to see the world. His first oversees assignment was on the Pacific island of Okinawa, towards the end of WWII. He spent 16 months on an oil tanker, refueling ships at sea, and eventually went to Saudi Arabia and through the Suez Canal.
When he returned from the U.S. Navy in 1951, he married Clarice Pronschinske and settled in Milwaukee. He met Clarice at the Prairie Moon Dance Hall just south of Cochrane. He went to school to become a Journeyman Machinist and specialized in machine repair/rebuild. He always told people he was a “Machine Repairman”.
Merlin worked at many places in Milwaukee and endured many job cutbacks and layoffs. He was most proud of his time at AC Electronics (General Motors) where he worked on machines that built guidance/gyro systems for the early rockets for manned space flight and was part of the team that built the guidance systems for the Apollo Moon Missions at the AC Electronics factory in Oak Creek Wisconsin.
He loved hunting and fishing and was a collector of all sorts of fishing gear and guns. If there was some sort of new reel, or lure, Merlin would have to have one.
Merlin and Clarice moved to the La Crosse area after retirement to be near to his favorite Mississippi River fishing spots and their relatives. Merlin enjoyed visits from his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There was always a sparkle in his eye when they visited.
Merlin spent the last years of his life living in his own house, enjoying his morning trips to Kwik Trip for coffee/cookies and visiting friends. He enjoyed his daily lunch at the La Crosse Family Restaurant where he met many friends, especially Mike & Mary. We would like to thank the staff there who treated him with kindness.
Merlin is survived by his son, Howard (Nan); daughter, Sharon; grandsons: Nathan (Lindsay), Alva (Mandy), Tony (Lyz); great-granddaughters: Lexi, Aubrey, Brenna, Grace and Kaiya; sisters-in-law: Kathleen Bocchi, JoAnn Lemancik, Delores Pronschinske; and many nieces and nephews.
Merlin was preceded in death by his wife, Clarice (Pronschinske); his parents: Otto and Stella; step-mother, Evelyn; brothers: Glenn Wendland, Allen Wendland; sister, Delores (Wendland) Tandetzke; brothers-in-law: Albert Jr. (Bud) Pronschinske, Harlan Pronschinske, Joe Bocchi, Rob Lemancik, Richard Tandetzke; sister-in-law, Pat (Harlan) Pronschinske; and nephew, Bradley Lang.
Family and friends may call on Wed., February 19, from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m., at Wozney-Killian Funeral Home, 1378 Wilson Ave., Arcadia, followed by a lunch at the Arcadia Country Club. A burial ceremony with military honors will be held at Buffalo City Cemetery after the lunch.
Online condolences may be left at Wozneykillianfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Merlin’s name to the Cochrane VFW, Post 10406, P.O. Box 84, Cochrane, WI 54622.
Our family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the doctors, nurses and professional caretakers of Gunderson Health System Hospital, 3rd floor, who attended to his final days.
