Merlin E. Geidel, age 95, of West Bend, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, October 4, 2014. He was born on June 21, 1919, in the Town of Farmington to Edward and Anita (nee Wittig) Geidel. Merlin was raised in the Random Lake area, moved to West Bend and graduated from West Bend High School in 1937. He attended Milwaukee School of Engineering for a year. Merlin enlisted in the Army in Milwaukee in 1942 and was chosen to attend Stanford University to learn Malay and Dutch. He was eventually sent to Germany as a translator during World War II in the 2nd Battalion, 255th Infantry. Merlin met Lucille Hetebrueg in 1946 in West Bend, and they married on September 28, 1946, in the Parsonage of Holy Angels Church. He was employed as an electrician and later was a supervisor at Briggs and Stratton until he retired in 1985.

Merlin learned to golf after his retirement and enjoyed travelling to Mississippi to play. He liked playing cards, bowling, fishing and woodworking. Merlin always had a twinkle in his eye and a little smile on his face.

Merlin is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lucille; children Patti Geidel, Mary (Terry) Driscoll and Ed (Debbie) Geidel; grandchildren Angi Driscoll, Ryan Driscoll, John Driscoll, Natalie Geidel and Nathan Geidel; brothers-in-law Paul (Sandy) Hetebrueg and Ed (Joan) Hetebrueg; sisters-in-law Sr. Susan Hetebrueg SSND and Mercedes Hetebrueg; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Robert Hetebrueg, and sisters-in-law Mary (Keith) Knoll and Ruth Hetebrueg.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Angels Catholic Church (138 N. 8th Ave.), West Bend on Thursday, October 9 at 6:00 PM with Fr. Gerald Brittain presiding. Visitation will be held at the church from 4:00 PM until the time of the service. Interment will take place at Holy Angels Cemetery in West Bend. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Cedar Hospice appreciated.

A special thank you to the staff of Countryside at Cedar Lake Health and Rehab, Cedar Bay East and Cedar Hospice for all their loving care.