Merlen (Merl) was born on May 17, 1934, in Canton, South Dakota to Mel and Nellie (Bjelde) Olson. When Merl was young his mother remarried to Bill Clercx who adopted Merl and his brother. He was raised and graduated from high school in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Merl served honorably in the U.S. Air Force (1954-58), received a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College (now Augustana University) SD, and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota -Twin Cities campus.
In 1960 Merl married Carleen D. Scheffer. They settled in St. Paul, MN, and raised three sons. He had a long and enjoyable career teaching in the Art Department at what became Roseville Area High School. Merl produced an abundance of artwork outside of the classroom, maintained a studio in downtown Saint Paul, showed his work professionally throughout the region and has work in numerous corporate and private collections. Merl loved to view, read, and talk about art, and he remained an active painter until his death. He was also a passionate gardener of food and flowers, and a bit of a pool shark! He loved to tell the story that in select pool tournaments he occasionally threw the championship game, because he noted, if you won the tournament you couldn’t play in the next one. A life-long student of billiards Merl sought and enjoyed competition, but he was perfectly happy with second place, if it meant another chance to have fun playing pool with his friends.
In retirement Merl and Carleen spent over fifteen winters in Texas with friends and with Carleen’s sister Sharon, and her husband Herman. Known by locals as “Winter Texans” they made many great memories there. In 2018 Merl and Carleen moved to DeLand, Florida, where they regularly attended arts and cultural events and enjoyed the warm weather with friends and family in downtown DeLand and St. Petersburg, Florida. In 2022 they joined the Brookdale assisted living facility in Ormond Beach West so they could remain together.
Merl was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Myron (Beverly) of Owatonna, MN; and he is survived by the love of his life, Carleen, their sons, Byron (Lynn) of DeLand, FL, Jim (Dusanka) of St. Petersburg, FL, Todd (Krista) of Wyoming, MN, and four grandchildren Susan (Thomas) Fimbres, Adrian (Lexi Nelson) Clercx, Maya Clercx, William Clercx, and four great grandchildren Roman, Declan, and Silas Fimbres, and Grayson Clercx.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10:00 AM with Visitation one hour prior to service from 9:00 - 10:00 AM at Sunset Funeral Chapel, 2250 St. Anthony Blvd NE., Minneapolis, MN 55413. A Luncheon will immediately follow the service at Twin Cities-400 Tavern, 1330 Industrial Blvd NE., Minneapolis, MN 55413. Interment will follow the luncheon at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to a local studio arts group or gardening club to honor two of Merl’s passions would be appreciated.
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