Merlin Spoelstra
Merlin Spoelstra
Merlin Spoelstra
October 2, 1969 – March 27, 2014
New Sharon, Iowa | Age 44
Merlin Dean Spoelstra, 44, of rural New Sharon, died early Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Keokuk County, Iowa. He was born October 2, 1969 at Oskaloosa, the son of Harold and Freda Vander Streek Spoelstra.
Merlin attended the Oskaloosa Christian School and then North Mahaska High School and graduated with the class of 1988. Early in his adult life, Merlin farmed on the family farm until 1999. On August 21, 1998, Merlin was united in marriage to Andrea Fifer at Newton.
Merlin worked at Ring-O-Matic in Pella for a couple of years; then Miraco in Grinnell for a while; followed by DeJong Manufacturing in New Sharon. At present, Merlin drove truck for DFS in Oskaloosa.
Merlin was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa. He enjoyed gardening; raising and tending his chickens; hunting, and fishing.
His family includes his wife, Andrea of rural New Sharon; their children: Ashley Elizabeth (age 12), Angela Anne (age 4), Aubrey Jo (age 3), and Melvin Dean (age 18 months), all at home; his father, Harold Spoelstra of New Sharon; his brothers and sisters: Larry Spoelstra of New Sharon, Edwin (& Karen) Spoelstra of Leighton, Donald Spoelstra of New Sharon, Linda (& Mark) Franje of New Sharon, Steven (& Brenda) Spoelstra of New Sharon, Mark (& Staci) Spoelstra of New Sharon, and Ruth (& Michael) Veenstra of Oskaloosa; his parents in law: Dave and Sherry Fifer of Newton; a brother in law: Scott (& Kim) Fifer of Carlisle; a sister in law: Jennifer (& Chris) Cones of Newton; and many nieces and nephews.
Merlin was preceded in death by his mother (on March 19, 2014); and a sister in infancy, Delores Ann Spoelstra.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 31, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. in the Grace Lutheran Church, Oskaloosa, with the Reverend Roger Neumann officiating.
Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery near Leighton.
Visitation will begin at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Sunday after 11 a.m., and the family will be at the funeral chapel on Sunday from 1 – 3 p.m. to greet friends and relatives.
A memorial fund has been established for his children.
