Robert Merkley

Robert Merkley was born to Erwin and Leona (Onan) Merkley on November 5, 1949 in Pipestone, Minnesota. Following his birth, he became a resident at Western Children’s Home. When he was two years old, he moved to the Sauk Center Home for Children. At the age of six, he lived in Lake Owasso Children’s Home for one year and then moved to the Fairbault State Hospital. When he was twenty years old, he lived in the St. Peter Treatment Center until he was 27 and then became a member at the Willmar Group Residential Treatment Center. From the age of 29 until the age of 41, he resided at the Friendship Haven Home in Pipestone and then became a resident at Hope Haven in Pipestone. While living in Pipestone, he was employed at Progress DAC where over the years he did paper shredding, worked for the Bio-Verse Company and worked with hitch pins. For the past year, he was a resident at the Luverne Residential Advantages, Inc. in Luverne, Minnesota. He died there on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at the age of 62 years and three months.
Bob loved music and he loved dancing to music often turning up the volume while dancing. He liked having a cup of coffee. He would often communicate through sign language to get his needs met. He will be remembered by his co-workers and staff at Progress DAC for his sweet smile, silly laugh and big grin. He faithfully looked forward to attending the Friendship Club every Thursday night in Edgerton.
He is lovingly remembered by his four siblings, Sondra and her husband Jim Taubert of Harmony, Minnesota, Tommye Kay Mueller of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Richard “Dick” and his wife Linn Merkley, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Roger Merkley of Denver, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents.