Merton "Mert" Westphal

     Merton “Mert” Westphal, age 85, of Decorah, IA, died on Thursday, March 27, at the Aase Haugen Nursing home in Decorah, IA.      Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at the Burr Oak Lutheran Church, 2358-360th St., Burr Oak, IA, with Rev. Matt Larson presiding. Burial will be in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, IA.      Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 p.m., on Monday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Monday morning.       Merton Arnold Westphal was born on November 25, 1928, the son of Robert and Fern (Mensink) Westphal on the farm near Cherry Grove, Minnesota. Mert attended rural country schools. Mert worked for area farmers and then to Miller View Angus Farms near Canton, Minnesota for almost fifty years. He was united in marriage to Wilma Tibbals on January 14, 1950, in Cherry Grove, MN. Mert enjoyed fishing, playing softball and gardening. Mert entered the Nursing Home in November 2013. Mert was a member of the Burr Oak Lutheran Church.      Mert’s survivors include two sons: Jim (Becky) Westphal, Ankeny, IA and David (Wanda) Westphal, Decorah, IA. One daughter: Sandra (Larry) Schipper, Austinville, IA. Five grandchildren: Mandy (Mike) Brown, Nikki (Dave) Burrus, Travis (Sara) Westphal, Heidi (Antonio) Hernandez and Sarah Schipper. Three step-grandchildren: Scott (Becky) Schipper, Dan (Kolleen) Schipper and Melissa (Rick) Miller. Five great grandchildren: Peyton & Derek Brown, David and Kaylee Westphal, Justeen & Chainey Schipper, and Nathan Burrus. Four step-grandchildren: Brent, Lisa, Kelsey and Danielle Miller. One brother: Wendell (Karen) Westphal, Nora Springs, IA. One sister-in-law: Jeanne Westphal, Austin, MN. Two brothers-in-law: Roy (Marcella) Tibbals, Lime Springs, IA, and Melvin Ihns, Lincoln, IA.      Mert was preceded in death by his parents: Robert and Fern (Mensink) Westphal. His wife: Wilma Westphal on October 23, 2007.   Two brothers: Roger Westphal and Floyd Westphal. One sister: Phyllis Ihns. One sister-in-law: Eleanor Knode.