- Date Of Birth: September 12, 1947
- Date Of Death: February 16, 2020
- State: Iowa
Merlin Dean Terlouw, 72, of Reasnor passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2020, at Park Centre in Newton.
Merlin was born September 12, 1947 in Colfax. He was the first born son of Marion and Barbara (Daft) Terlouw. After living in Mingo until November of 1949, the family moved to Prairie City. Merlin attended Prairie City schools and was a 1967 graduate. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force serving for four years and trained as a jet mechanic. He spent one year in Thailand and returned home in 1971. Upon returning home, he worked for the Maytag Company and then worked construction for a number of years. He also spent several years as a sub-contractor installing tile for Boat’s Furniture of Pella.
Merlin enjoyed many interests which included collecting and restoring kid’s pedal cars, painting and drawing, and going to garage sales and flea markets. He would tell people that “he bought junk and sold it as antiques.” He enjoyed attending his son and grandson’s sporting events. He had served on the Reasnor City Council and the Reasnor Fire Department. He was a great tease and joker.
Those left to miss him daily are his wife of 46 years, Nancy of Reasnor; son, Steven of Newton; grandsons, Landen and Carsen of Newton; his brother, Michael (Anna) Terlouw of Prairie Village, Kansas; his uncles, Louis (Joan) Terlouw of Pella and Stanley Daft of Prairie City; an aunt, Theda Fopma of Grinnell; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Barbara Terlouw; parents-in-law, Marion and Gerry Septer; and his grandparents, John and Phoebe Terlouw and Edward and Helen Daft.
