Obituary of Merlin Landsness

A funeral service for Merlin "Cook" Landsness, age 79, of Arnolds Park and formerly of Sioux Rapids, will be held Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 1:30PM at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 6th from 5:00-7:00pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Merlin "Cook" Landsness, 79, of Arnolds Park, formerly of Sioux Rapids passed away peacefully at home on April 3, 2016. Merlin Jay Landsness was born at Sioux Rapids, Iowa on February 8, 1937 to Austin and Helen (Jeppeson) Landsness. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids. Merlin graduated from Sioux Rapids Consolidated Schools in 1954. After high school he attended Iowa State College until he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1956 and was honorably discharged in 1958. After completing his military service he came back to Sioux Rapids and worked at Heidelbauer Hatchery until he was employed at Weyerhauser Lumber Yard where he became the manager until 1967 when he began farming the Landsness farm. He was always a "farm boy" at heart, loving to care for the land and conserving it for future generations until his retirement in 2015. Merlin and Phyllis Sewalson were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church in Linn Grove on August 6, 1961. To this union, one son was born. Always liking to drive semis, he began to drive trucks for Oscar Sundblad while he continued to farm. When Oscar retired, Merlin purchased a tractor and trailer and began his own trucking business in 1973 and continued hauling livestock for 30 years. Wanting to do some fishing and boating, Phyllis and Merlin bought a cottage on East Okoboji in 1993. In 2009 they built a permanent home and retired at the Lakes. Merlin was a faithful member of First Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids where he served on various boards and offices. Merlin and Phyllis transferred to First Lutheran in Milford in 2012 where they were active members. Several years of his life were devoted to showing registered quarter horses. With his show mare, he won the Iowa Registered Quarter Horse Association trophy in men's western pleasure for two years. He found enjoyment in aiding two young men, Duane Magnussen and Kale Glover begin their farming careers. He enjoyed coffee with the "boys", playing cards, and spending time with his family and friends. Cook was a kind, loving, and gentle man and will be missed by all who knew him. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Phyllis, sister-in-law DeEtte Blomberg, nephews, nieces and cousins. Preceding him in death were an infant son, his parents, and his brother Leroy.