Gerome "Gerry" Merrill

GEROME 'GERRY' DONALD MERRILL...

was born on April 25, 1961 to Gerald and Verone (Schliinz) Merrill in Pipestone, Minnesota where he was raised on the family farm. He attended Dolson Hill Elementary School and then Pipestone High School. During high school, he worked part-time at Gehrel’s Nursery and the Pipestone Vet Clinic. After his high school graduation in 1979, he continued his education at Worthington Community College. When he graduated from community college in ag business, he returned to Pipestone and worked on the farm and at Bayliner Marine.

On August 6, 1983, he married Laurie Butman at Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone. Following their marriage, they lived in Pipestone and Gerry farmed with his dad on the family farm raising corn and beans. They moved to the family farm in 1994. When his dad retired, Gerry took over the farming operation. On Monday, September 28, 2015, Gerry died at his home at the age of 54 years, five months and three days.

Gerry was a member of Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone where he met Laurie in Sunday School. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting and horse showing competitions. He was a member of 4-H and the Quarter Horse Association. During high school, he played basketball and football and fell in love. Throughout his lifetime, he loved to snowmobile and go boating and jet skiing at the family cabin on Lake Shaokatan. Farming was his passion, and he loved caring for his wife and kids.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Laurie Merrill of Pipestone, Minnesota; two children, Nichole Merrill of Brookings, South Dakota, and Michael Merrill of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; his mother, Verone “Boots” Merrill of Pipestone; three sisters, LaVon Gennette of Gilford, Connecticut, LaNet (Brian Gaffey) Merrill of Sanibel, Florida, and LeAnn (Scott) Quist of Pipestone, Minnesota; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Gerald.