Merlin D. Lammers

Merlin Daniel Lammers age 72 of Fremont, Nebraska and formerly of the Hartington area died on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at the Veterans Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, February 18, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fordyce, Nebraska with the Rev. Jim Keiter officiating. Military rites will be held outside of church following the mass conducted by the Hartington VFW Post #5283. Burial of his cremated remains will be at St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Fordyce at a future date.  Visitation with his body present will be on Thursday, February 17th at church, from 6-8:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue on Friday, at church, one hour prior to services.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington. Pallbearers will be Curtis Lammers, Michael Lammers, Bob Steffen, Ron Steffen, Keith Becker, and Gayle Becker.  Honorary pallbearers will be Merlin’s sons and sons-in-law. Merlin was born on Feb. 15^th, 1949, the 6^th of 9 children, to Hugo and Hildegard (Arens) Lammers of Hartington, NE. He attended Cedar Catholic High School in Hartington, NE and graduated in 1967. After graduation he went on to achieve an Associate Degree of Applied Science at Southern State College in Springfield, South Dakota in 1969. After graduating from college he entered the military, serving in the Army from 4/21/1970 – 12/9/1971 where he was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. Upon completing two years of service, Merlin returned to Cedar County, began a career in farming, and met his wife Patricia Jo McCance at St. Helena’s dance hall. They married on the 25^th of October 1980 in Fordyce, NE. To this union were born 8 children that they raised on the farm near Pleasant Valley. Merlin enjoyed hunting, fishing, taking camping trips, tending his garden and watching his children grow (in their understanding of Pinochle). Any spare time was spent crafting woodworking projects that he often gifted to his children. Merlin also enjoyed taking his children snow skiing. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Lammers of Fremont, NE; his eight children Jennifer (Brad) DeSaye of Prescott, AZ, Celeste (Michael) Harris of Omaha, Angela (Joshua) Harper of Omaha, Benedict Lammers of Fremont, Lenora (Denny) Losse of Norfolk, NE , Dominic Lammers of Phoenix, AZ, Philomena Lammers of Prescott, AZ, Serena Lammers of Omaha; his 5 grandchildren; his sister, Mary Jean (Jerry) Steffen of Crofton, his brother Alan (Carol) Lammers of Hartington; his brother, Darrell (Jean) Lammers of Hartington, his sister Anita Kneifl of Sioux Falls, SD, his brother, David (Lori) Lammers of Hartington; and sister-in-law Marcella Lammers of Yankton, SD. He was preceded in death by 3 miscarried children Pat, Bobby and Patience; his parents, Hugo and Hildegard Lammers; brothers, Marvin and Vernon Lammers; sister, Denelda Becker; parents-in-law; Bill and Jo McCance.