COLUMBUS--Merlyn K. Lienke age 89 died on August 12, 2021. He was born the son of Carl and Laura (Roehl) Lienke on January 15, 1932 and raised by his paternal aunt and uncle, Alma and Clarence Linde due to the early passing of his parents.  He graduated from Columbus High School in 1950 and was a member of the 32 ^nd National Guard for 8 years. Merlyn married Joycelyn Anderson on June 26, 1954.  Merlyn had demonstrated a strong work ethic and led by example. He owned and operated Lienke's Deep Rock Service Station where he hired and mentored high school kids to work at the station. Lienke's Deep Rock was also one of the first local businesses to support a girls softball team at the development of the league. He later retired from American Packaging of Columbus. He was also one of the founding members of Faith Lutheran Church in Columbus where he served on the first church council and established the first spaghetti dinner.   He was a member of the Men In Mission Bible Study Group at Faith.  Merlyn loved his family and created wonderful memories through snowmobiling, cross country skiing, camping and fishing. He loved his dogs, flowers and watching and feeding the birds.

He is survived by his wife, Joycelyn; four children Laura (Terry) Gabriel of New Berlin,  Kris (Thomas) Sanderson of South Beloit, IL, Scot (Karen) Lienke of Front Royal, VA , Elizabeth (Duane) Gilbertson of Columbus; twelve grandchildren Amy  Hillegass, Andrew Vanek, Jennifer Vanek, Austin Sanderson, Anna Sanderson, Melissa James, Aimee Thomas, Elizabeth DiGuilian, Angela Johnson, Jamie Marshall, Gabriel Gilbertson, Samuel Gilbertson; seventeen great grandchildren Courtney Vanek, Jacob Tetzlaff , Janea Whitelow, Logan Vanek, Makaio Bullocks, Victoria Johnson, Colin Kamerer, Philip Kamerer, Amelia DiGiulian, Noah Thomas, Bella Thomas, Carter Marshall, Hoyt Marshall, Sawyer Marshall, Eloise Gilbertson, Sophie Gilbertson, Gemma Gilbertson; Rotarian exchange student, Gise Ramirez, who was like a fourth daughter.  He is also survived by sisters-in law Shirley Benzine and Eunice Anderson, and "brother" LaVerne Linde. He is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Laura Lienke, two brothers Carl and Delmar, mother and father-in-law Elmer and Anna Anderson, brothers-in-law James Anderson, Marvin Anderson, Tom Provot, Ralph Benzine and sisters-in-law Arlene Provot and Ruth Anderson.

The family would like to thank Drs. Rolf and Sam Poser and Dr. Hinderaker for supporting him the last 40 years starting with bypass surgery at the age of 50. Twenty-eight stents later, he was able to see the age of 89.

Memorials may be made to the Faith Lutheran Church or the Columbus Area Historical Society. We encourage you to share your online condolences at jensenfuneralandcremation.com