Merle Tonderum

Merle Tonderum, 88 of Dows passed away Monday, July 10, 2017 at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.

Memorial services for Merle will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at First Lutheran Church, 206 West Ellsworth Street in Dows with Pastor Grant Woodley officiating. Private family burial will take place at Fairview Cemetery in Dows.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at the church on Saturday.

Merle Garman Tonderum was born on October 18, 1928 to Carl and Helena (Christiansen) Tonderum near Ottosen, Iowa. He was baptized at the Bode Lutheran Church. At age 10, he moved with his family to a farm near Dows where he attended country school and later Dows High School. Merle worked as a farm hand until he moved to Ames and worked for Moore’s Dairy. Merle married Loa Dell Twedt on August 20, 1949 at the Lutheran Church in Ellsworth, Iowa. Merle and Loa Dell first met at the roller skating rink near Iowa Falls. In 1952, they moved back to the Dows area where they built a successful farming operation, Merle’s first love second to his family. While he was farming he also worked for the ASCS office sealing corn. Merle was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church in Dows and was actively involved in community activities. After retirement, Merle enjoyed his yard work, playing cards with the guys, golfing, and spending time with his family. Merle is survived by his wife Loa Dell Tonderum; children Vicki (David) Schuerman of Gresham, Oregon, Debbie (Craig) Blanchard of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Lori (Mike) Anderson of Ogden, Iowa, and Michael (Donna) Tonderum of Maple Valley, Washington; grandchildren, Angela (Jeff) Miller, Bryan (Jennifer) Schuerman, Cara (fiancé Christian Moellman) Schuerman, Erik (Ashley) Blanchard, Lucas (Danielle) Blanchard, Leah (Ethan) Jennings, Lindsay (Jeremy) Gustafson, Cole (Amanda) Anderson, Conner Anderson, Gabe Tonderum, Sierra Tonderum, Andro Tonderum, Donovan Tonderum, and Alex Tonderum; great-grandchildren, Peyton Schuerman, Kyler Blanchard, Norah Blanchard, Grace Blanchard, Audry Blanchard, Kellen Blanchard, Isaiah Jennings, Lily Gustafson, Brayden Anderson, and Chandler Anderson; sisters-in-law, Eleanor Tonderum, Ruth Olson, and Doris Twedt; and many nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends. Merle was preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings, Evelyn Stebbins, Jean Rostenbach, Clareen Schmalzried, and Telbert Tonderum.