Merlen Schnakenberg

Merlen Ray Schnakenberg was born March 29, 1937.  He departed this life on June 2, 2022 at the age of 85. Visitation will be held at Kroll Funeral Home, 419 4th Street, Deshler, on Thursday, June 9 from 5-8 p.m.  Church services will be held on Friday, June 10 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Deshler.
Merlen Ray Schnakenberg, son of George and Edna (Getz) Schnakenberg was born March 29, 1937 in Sedan, Nuckolls County.  He was the fifth of eight children to this marriage, with a sister and two brothers entering life and establishing the family.  He was baptized on April 11, 1937 by Pastor L. Ernst and confirmed on March 18, 1951 by Pastor C.G. Stockamp at St Peters Lutheran Church in Davenport.  Merlen departed this life on June 2, 2022 at the age of 85 years, 2 months and 5 days.
Merlen grew up in Sedan, attending grade school at St. Peters Lutheran Church and then graduating from Davenport High School in the class of 1955.  Upon graduating, Merlen enlisted into the military, but a knee complication denied his admission.  He remained in the Sedan/Davenport area working for various farmers, driving cattle trucks to Omaha and St. Joseph stockyards, and Bergt Gravel Company.  
On October 21, 1962 Merlen was united in marriage with Rosemary (Elvers) Bartling and became a family with her three children: Nicky (1958), Daniel (1959) and Kristine Bartling (1961).   To this marriage, four more children eventually were added to the family:  Shelly (1963), Jodi (1965), Jani (1966) and Jamie (1972).  In 1964, Merlen and Rose moved their growing family from Deshler to the Getz family farm north of Deshler.   Merlen was a farmer and a livestock producer responsible for daily operations of the feedlot, maintenance of equipment and irrigation of the crops.  The entire family engaged this way of life and Merlen was devoted to the family business.  Then in 1978, the family relocated to the William Othling farm south of Deshler and Merlen started working for Ray Mausoleum Co. in Deshler.  He retired from his small farming operation in 1995 after suffering a health issue and served over 25 years with Ray Mausoleum Co. and later, Mausoleums by Reinke, until he fully retired in 2006 after a second health issue.  Merlen and Rose, in 2007, purchased their first acreage northeast of Deshler and resided there until Merlen moved into Deshler in April 2021.
Retirement was full of trips to watch his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up.  He enjoyed road trips, being the narrator for who lived there or what was relevant about the location.  Many stories about his youthful years were told involving the train that he rode to and from school in Davenport.  He recalled the blizzard of 1949 and not losing a single chick when the chicken brooder house was completely buried under snow.  He played high school football and Davenport beat Deshler for their only loss his Senior year.  Family vacations and camping trips created memories.  While Saturdays were all about Husker football for Rose, Merlen was as an avid Husker volleyball fan!   Many frantic phone calls were received to find the correct TV channel and they usually didn’t last much longer after that.  If he didn’t have that channel, he was off to Nick or Jani’s house to watch it!  He was able to attend a game in person and was impressed by those tall girls.  He noticed how large farm equipment became, was concerned about unmonitored pivot irrigation and always asked about the cattle.  Merlen was a farmer and a livestock producer.  
Merlen was preceded in death by: his parents George and Edna; his wife of 53 years, Rose, sister Leela Mae Crockett and husband David, sisters-in-law JoAnn Schnakenberg and Elvira Schnakenberg, grandson Taylor Bartling, nephew David “Dick” Crockett and nieces Linda (Crockett) Faulk, Michelle (Schnakenberg) Hale and Terrie (Anderson) Pester.
He is survived by his three sons: Nicky Bartling of Deshler; Daniel Bartling and wife Jill of Aurora; and Jamie Schnakenberg and wife Kim of Wahoo;  four daughters: Kristine Ellingson and husband Mike of Crete; Shelly Schnakenberg of Phillips; Jodi Else and husband Bob of Belvidere; Jani Cottam and husband Kevin of Hebron;  fourteen grandchildren: Natasha Ellingson of Crete; Sarah and Jon Zarnick of Lincoln; Eric Ellingson of Springfield; Jessie and Josh McBride of Maxwell; Trevor and Stephanie Bartling of Omaha; Pierce and June Bartling of Hong Jo, China; Seth Schnakenberg of Omaha; Spenser and Jessica Else of Belvidere; Ethan Hudson of Newman Grove; Sydney Cottam of Hebron; Cambrie Cottam and special friend Zerron of Kearney; Josie Schnakenberg and fiance, Tanner of Omaha; Jaclyn Schnakenberg of Omaha, Jonas Schnakenberg of Wahoo and ten great-grandchildren; two brothers: Harlan Schnakenberg of Deshler and  Larry Schnakenberg and wife Grace of Tucson, AZ; in-laws: Berta and Wayne Lomax of Crete; Roger and Debbie Jo Elvers of Auburn, CA; Don Elvers and fiance Terri of Wichita, KS.  He was Uncle Mert to many.
Kroll Funeral Home in Deshler is in charge of arrangements. Follow St. Peter Lutheran Church on Facebook for this service livestreamed.