Merland "Merle" "Merlin" L Wangen

Merland “Merlin” “Merle” L. Wangen, 93, formerly of Sparta, WI, died peacefully at Springbrook Assisted Living in Onalaska, WI on 7/2/2024.

Merle was born to Edward and Bertha Wangen on 11/22/1930 in Lanesboro, MN. He was baptized at First Lutheran Church of Highland and confirmed at Elstad Lutheran Church. He was the youngest son and the eighth of ten children. Merle wrote, this was “a large family to raise on an 80-acre farm during the Depression years.”

The Wangen’s religion and values were those of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. So, in addition to attending classes at the one-room public schoolhouse through 8th grade, Merle also attended Norwegian parochial school (“folkehogskole”) each summer for Norwegian religion and language lessons. His faith was central to his identity, and he he was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sparta. He also helped establish two churches in his lifetime: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN, and Gift of Grace Lutheran Church in Holmen, WI.

Merle recalled the summer of preparation for confirmation which followed the completion of Norwegian parochial school lessons. He was to give up the child-like ‘knee knickers’ and get a ‘man’s suit’ complete with long pants and matching coat for confirmation. He and his parents took a day-long road trip to La Crosse to get the suit at Newburg’s Menswear. He was 14 years old, and this would be his first excursion beyond the county lines of his birthplace. This was an exciting day, but he “did not stray far from Mom and Dad in the ‘Big City.’” He writes, “I did not realize at the time that my childhood days were over. Little did I know that in five years I would be in the U.S. Air Force, walking the streets of Atlanta, New York and London alone! I grew up fast.”

When Merle graduated high school in 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force thinking that another war involving the U.S. was imminent. During the Korean War, he was stationed in London where he stayed for the majority of his four-year service. He explored England and flew to Belgium, Denmark, and most importantly for him, Norway where he intended to finally meet his Grandpa Ole.

Merle’s father, Ed, grew up near Honefos, Norway. As the eldest of nine children, Ed’s life was hard on the farm and times were tough. He had been logging and working the farm with his father, Ole, since he was a child. As soon as he was old enough to work outside the farm, he began a railroad job digging tunnels from Oslo to Bergen. As a young man, Ed could see there was hope for a better life outside of Norway, and he emigrated to America on the Lusitania along with 3,000 other immigrants when he was 21 years old.

Merle was 21 when he showed up on Grandpa Ole’s doorstep - the same age Ed was when he left the farm. It had been nearly four decades since Ole had seen his son, Ed. Merle was eager to meet his grandfather and proud to be the first of the “American” Wangen’s to visit family in Norway. In greeting his grandson Merle, Ole said, “I’m happy to see you, but I wish it was Ed instead.” Over the years, when Merle shared this story, it seemed the sting of this greeting had dulled for him. However, the complicated feelings and thoughts he had about the relationship his father had with his grandfather are not known.

 Merle had ‘a good assignment’ in London and was trained as a member of the U.S. Air Force Air Police. He was honored to stand guard near Buckingham Palace for the Coronation of young Queen Elizabeth II. Merle wrote, “I was within 20 feet of her procession when she left the palace, and again when she returned!” He certainly was a long way from Fillmore County! The spectacle of this dramatic event left quite an impression on the young man from rural Minnesota. For years, he kept a 1953 Queen Elizabeth-faced British half-penny in his front pants pocket for good luck.

After Merle’s military service ended in 1954, he returned to Minnesota. As he was looking for a full-time job, he did ‘day jobs’ for local farmers. He heard from a guy that Dutch Fishbaugher was looking for two men to help with bailing hay on his farm near Harmony. The guy added that there were some good lookin’ young women there, too. Merle met pretty, young Marjorie when she brought lunch to the men working in the field. Of course Merle wanted to ask her out; but didn’t have the nerve, and frankly, didn’t think he stood a chance with her. He decided to write a note to her suggesting they go to a show. He recalls, “And she said, ‘yes!’” And that was the beginning of their life-long love story.

Merle and Marjorie S. (Fishbaugher) were married at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony, MN on June 13, 1956. Their first home was in a close-knit neighborhood in Rochester and started their family. A job promotion with Imperial Oil brought the family of five to Sparta, WI in 1964. Four years later, they moved into their newly built home. Here they raised their five children and relished time with their grandchildren and hosted countless holiday parties, picnics, baby showers, bridal showers, birthdays and gatherings. Anyone stopping by in the late morning or early afternoon was welcome to join Marge and Merle at their dining room table for their ritual coffee breaks - always with a cookie or bar baked by Marge.

Merlin owned MW Painters and worked as a painting contractor most of his career. He was lucky to have honest and hard-working men on his crew - his son Mark, who later ran the business, and John Erickson. Satisfied customers were the only advertising needed! So many homes, barns, historic mansions and commercial properties in the area were beautified by the high quality work of MW Painters. “Better Paint, Better Painters, Better Call!”

 At Christmas time, Merle decorated the outside of home with lights and a NOEL sign. He and Marjorie made lefse a few times each year, and he was in charge of making the oyster stew for Christmas Eve. He also enjoyed baking Norwegian sandbakelse, krumkake, and almond crescent cookies. He was also one to find a couple of good lutefisk dinners at local churches each year.

Merle enjoyed creating things, whether that was drawing, painting, carving, or building. He was able to fix almost anything and was especially good at math and mechanical problem-solving. He was always willing to build or fix something for anyone who asked. He restored a 1923 Model T Ford truck just like the one his father had owned, and then drove around in it with his 87 year old dad back in 1975. Each year, he created a riddle-based treasure hunt to challenge and entertain guests at the family’s annual Spring Fling party. He built quilt racks and unique bird feeders for Christmas gifts. For the children, he built an A-frame playhouse, train tables, personalized toy barns, doll beds, and doll clothing armoires, and other toys. Later in life, he carved classic Air Force planes out of wood blocks just by looking at photographs of old planes! Merle did many household projects for his wife and his children. If you needed something fixed or built, he would work out a solution and explain it to you, frequently asking, “You follow?” Merle showed his love by sharing what he created for the enjoyment of others.

In the late 1990’s, Merle wrote a collection of autobiographical essays which he titled, Memories: Son of a Norwegian Immigrant Farmer (Depression Era.) These memories from childhood - young adulthood will be shared with future generations of Wangen’s. The theme of his memoir is the question he asks of the reader, “Were these ‘the best of times and the worst of times?’” Over a decade later, he wrote a brief addendum with attention drawn to contemporary diseases, drug use, climate change, groundwater contamination, children not being safe in schools, a culture of violence, and the persistence of poverty and homelessness in America. And he asks, “‘Are these ‘the best of times and the worst of times?’”

Merle is survived by his devoted wife, Marjorie S. (Fishbaugher;) their five children: Jaqueline (Peter) Oehler, Debera (Jon) Uy, Mark, Jolene (Grant) Huber, and Heidi (Paul) Burke; and grandchildren: Megan Jones, Kaleigh Jones, Janie Uy, Alex Uy, Mark Wangen (Macy Johnson,) Luke (Shayla) Wangen, Greta Huber, Grace Huber, Tyler Burke, Emma Burke, Sam Burke; and great grandchildren: Madeline Wangen, Iris Wangen, Henry Wangen, and Vinny Wangen

He is preceded in death by his parents and seven older siblings.

A Memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, in Sparta, with military honors following the service. Burial will be at a later date.

A visitation will be held at 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, family asks that you donate to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com.

Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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