Merlyn “Mert” Atkinson, 89, of Dubuque, passed away Monday, July 28, 2025, at Oak Park Place assisted living, following a brief illness.

A family graveside service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Dubuque Memorial Gardens. Full military honors will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League. Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family.

Mert was born on March 14, 1936, on the family farm in Lafayette County, WI. He graduated from Lancaster High School as a honor student in 1954. He always loved to brag he played both offense and defense for the Flying Arrows football team. He then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in June of the same year and served in Japan. After his honorable discharge he continued his military career in the United States Army and United States Navy reserves until retiring as a Chief Storekeeper in 1992.

After the Marines, Mert returned home and was employed at Dubuque Packing Company until 1982. He then started employment with the State of Iowa serving as a correctional officer in Anamosa and in 1984 transferred to the DOT as the Driver’s License Examiner in Dubuque.

In 1958 Mert met the love of his life, Beverly Schultz, at the Lancaster High School homecoming dance. Mert asked her to dance, and they danced together for the next 61 years until her passing in 2020.

Mert and Bev spent years on road trips collecting antiques. Mert was a charter member of the Dubuque Marine Corps League and was an avid Packer fan. Mert’s loves, other than Bev, were riding Harleys in his younger days, parades, and his cat Buddy.

Mert is survived by four daughters: Angie (Don) Heim, Darci (Gary) Breiner, Marnie (Karl) Kane and Erin (Dan) Hayes; six grandchildren: Mandy (Jake) Lindecker, Jessica (Tyler) Bosveld, Olivia (Nate) Murphy, Avery Kane, Spencer Hayes, and Samantha Hayes; seven great grandchildren: Waylon and Lainey Lindecker, Lexi and Adrian Bosveld, Arianna, Faith, and Dezmond Murphy. Through marriage several more grandchildren and great grandchildren have blessed Mert’s life. Mert is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law Bud (Sue) Schultz of Dublin, GA, and Mike (Carmen) Schultz of Shaker Heights, OH along with several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Mert was preceded in death by his beloved wife Bev Atkinson; parents Delbert and Vera (Speth) Atkinson and his mother and father-in-law Orville and Doris Schultz; brothers Leonard “Squeaky” Atkinson and Delbert Jr. Atkinson in infancy; brothers and sisters-in-law Clinton and Iretta Atkinson and Milton and Bonnie Klepper. He was also preceded in death by his best friend, Nick Schuster and his cherished cat, Buddy.

We are so thankful for the care provided by St. Croix Hospice and nurse Keisha for their empathetic care of Mert.

Semper Fi