Obituary from the Fairbanks, Alaska "Daily News-Miner" newspaper, dated Sunday, October 25, 2009, page B-3:

Merlyn Leroy Alden passed away at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Oct. 15, 2009, at the age of 65. Merlyn will be missed by everyone who has known him. Merlyn always had a joke to tell, generally not just one but five jokes. He always had a new Ole and Lena joke to tell. We would like to thank everyone who was able to visit and call him during his hospital stay. A sincere thank you goes to IBEW Local 1547 for all of the help and support they gave us during his stay in the hospital.

Merlyn was born in Frederic, Wisc., to Mervin and Evelyn Alden. After graduating from Anoka Senior High in 1962, Merle enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Merle went to and finished his electrical training from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minn. In 1970, Merle decided it was time to go north to Alaska. Merle was a lifelong member of the IBEW. During the '70s, Merle found a home in Fairbanks and became a member of Local 1547. He took dispatches to many construction sites around northern Alaska and worked maintenance at Clear Air Force Station until he retired Dec. 31, 1999, at 11:59 p.m. Merle said one millennium was enough.

Merlyn is survived by his mother, Evelyn Alden, of Bowling Green, Ky.; sisters Gayle Burmester, of Germany, and Susan Martinez, of Bowling Green; nephews Kevin and Kai Burmester, of Germany, and Darryl L. Alden, of Bowling Green; and nieces Juliane Selent, of Germany, and Annett Barnes, of Oak Harbor, Wash. Merle was preceded in death by his father, Mervin Alden; brother Darryl D. Alden; and nephew Brian Burmester.

Visitation was at the Carlson-Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009. Funeral services were at Pilgrim Lutheran Church on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. For his many friends in Fairbanks, there will be a memorial service at the American Legion Post No. 57 on Nov. 1, 2009, at 4 p.m.