Steven  Merkwan

CLERGY
Rev. Dean Schroeder
MUSIC
Pianist ~ Melissa Bruna
Soloist ~ Caroline King
“Amazing Grace”
Congregational Hymns
“How Great Thou Art”
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
Dennis Merkwan & Jim Merkwan
All of Steve’s Cousins, Nephews, & Nieces
ACTIVE CASKETBEARERS
Joey Cap, Mark Walloch, Darrell Pavel,
Tony Geohring, Tim Geohring, and George Peterson
Steven Joseph Merkwan, 60, of Tyndall, SD, passed away on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 in Tyndall, SD after battling colon cancer for the past year.
Steve was born on October 3, 1957 at Saint Michael’s Hospital in Tyndall, SD to Emil and Patricia (Bartekoske) Merkwan. He grew up on the family farm located 10 miles north east of Tyndall. He graduated from Tyndall High School in 1975. After graduation, Steve worked at the Avon Live Stock, Co-op in Tyndall, SD, Cimpels meats in Yankton and Shur-Co in Yankton.
In 1986, he married Lavona Marie Peterson, whom he had been dating since 1981. Together, they were blessed with the birth of two children, a son, Michael and daughter, Jennifer.
Steve’s passions included fishing, gardening, going to the casino and rides in the country past the farmstead. He also enjoyed his tractors and working on vehicles with his son.
Steve is survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Lavona Merkwan, his two children, Mike and Jennifer, both of Tyndall, SD; brothers and sister-in-laws, James and Jolene of Tabor, SD and Dennis and Lorrie Merkwan of Sioux Falls, SD; nieces and nephews.; brother-in-laws, Melvin (Cathy) Peterson of Lesterville, SD and Lloyd (Cindy) Peterson of Avon, SD.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Patricia Merkwan, grandparents and an aunt, Violet Geohring and uncle, Leroy Geohring.