Kenneth L. Mergen, 86, of Grinnell and formerly of Sully, passed away Jan. 2, 2025, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.
A memorial service was held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grinnell. Memorials may be made payable to Immanuel Lutheran Church, mailed in c/o Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Ken was born Aug. 2, 1938, to Michael and Esther (Higley) Mergen in Whittemore. He grew up in Whittemore alongside his three brothers Clem, Don, and Pat. Kenneth graduated from Presentation Academy in Whittemore in 1956.
Aug. 8, 1959, Kenneth was united in marriage to Janice Shultz at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Whittemore. To this union the couple had three children: Keith, Kathy, and Lynn.
Ken worked in sales throughout his career. He started his career in Pomeroy for three years, then Northrup King in 1966, where he covered northwest Iowa for 11 years. In 1977, he worked for Golden Sun Feeds in Hartley, covering northwest Iowa. In 1980, he took on an assistant sales job with Golden Sun Feeds, then he was promoted to plant and sales manager. In 1995, Golden Sun Feeds was sold to Purina, so he was transferred to a plant in Danville, IL. In his early retirement, he went to work for Sully Co-op, which is now Key Co-op. He retired in 2000.
Ken loved spending time with his family. He took his sons and grandsons on yearly fishing trips in Minnesota since 2003. Before that, he was going on fishing trips with his friends in Canada since the early 1960s. He enjoyed playing golf. Ken was an active member at Immanuel Lutheran Church. He held positions as president of the church congregation, an elder, and Sunday school superintendent. He was also a member of Sully Lions Club.
Ken is survived by his wife Jan Mergen of Grinnell; his sons Keith (Heidi) Mergen of Phoenix, AZ, and Lynn (Sharee) Mergen of Warsaw, IN; his grandchildren Nick (Amanda) Mergen of Tiffin, Katherine Mergen of Washington, D.C., Hannah Mergen of St. Louis, MO, and Matthew Mergen of St. Louis, MO; and his sisters-in-law Carol Mergen of Sunrise Beach, MO, and Dorothy Mergen of Estherville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Kathy Mergen, and his brothers Pat Mergen, Clem Mergen, and Don Mergen.
