Funeral Services For Merlin Walter Buettner

Merlin Walter Buettner, 74, passed away peacefully with his family on Friday, April 1, 2016. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska with Monsignor Ralph Steffensmeier officiating. Interment followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Primrose, Nebraska. Visitation will be 5-7 Tuesday at the church with a 7:00 p.m. wake service. Visitation will resume Wednesday morning, 9:00 a.m. until service time, at the church. Levander Funeral Home of Cedar Rapids is in charge of arrangements. 

Merlin, son of Walter and Viola Morris Buettner, was born April 21, 1941 in Albion, Nebraska. He grew up in Boone County and attended District 59 and Primrose High School. While growing up he worked on the family farm and enjoyed being a brother to his 11 siblings.

He was a loving husband to Mary Ann Boesch Buettner. They were married at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on July 23, 1960. Together Merlin and Mary Ann enjoyed travelling and raising their family in Cedar Rapids. They had four boys, Dave (Kim), Tom (Ranita), Bill (Cynthia), and James. Among their favorite trips were adventures in Nashville and Las Vegas. They travelled with their friends and family and always had stories to share when they returned home.

Merlin was an agriculture entrepreneur. He owned and operated farming operations, a Commercial Agriculture Spraying Company, building and grain bin construction companies, seed sales, and custom hay bailing and sales. Merlin’s love of family and the farming way of life were his passions. Merlin was an avid reader of Western novels which featured lever-action rifles. He began collecting the rifles, a pastime he shared with his sons. Together the boys and Merlin would hunt and enjoy the outdoors.

He served as a Council Member for the Village of Cedar Rapids and as a Boone County Commissioner. Merlin was a member of St. Anthony’s Parish in Cedar Rapids.

Merlin loved his eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He especially loved to hold the new babies and would always be happy to take them for a ride in the pick-up to check the fields.

Merlin is survived by his loving and devoted wife Mary Ann; three sons; Dave and wife Kim of Cedar Rapids, NE, Tom and wife Ranita of Cedar Rapids, NE, Bill and wife Cynthia of Omaha, NE. Eleven grand-children; Nena Rutten of Cedar Rapids, NE, Tom and Megan Buettner of Greeley, NE, Tina and Miguel Karmann of Cedar Rapids, Jeff Buettner of Omaha, NE, Shelby Buettner of Chicago, IL, Craig Buettner of Omaha, NE, Emily Buettner of Omaha, NE, Shayna Buettner and Adam Duerksen of Albion, NE, Jon Buettner of Cedar Rapids, NE, Sarah Buettner of Cedar Rapids, NE, Joshua Buettner of Cedar Rapids, NE and nine great-grandchildren; Marysa and Ava Duerksen, Albion, NE, Kaimyn and Hunter Rutten, Cedar Rapids, NE, Payton and Brigham Loeffler, Cedar Rapids, NE, Hadlee Buettner, Greeley, NE, Presley and Braylee Buettner, Cedar Rapids, NE; brothers and sisters; Ronald and Diane Buettner, Cedar Rapids, NE, Harold and Janice Buettner, Primrose, NE, Richard and Mary Buettner, Columbus, NE, Arnie and Shari Buettner, Albion, NE, Bob and Janet Buettner, Hickman, NE, Mark and Becky Buettner, South Bend, NE, Jerry Buettner, Helena, MT, Marie Jenkins, Lincoln, NE, Patty and Rick Kolm, Columbus, Joan and Bill Arkfeld, Madison, NE; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Jerry and Philamae Towey, Cedar Rapids, NE, Don and Mary Pat Boesch, Cedar Rapids, NE.

Merlin is preceded in death by his parents, son Jim, brother John, grandson-in-law Toma Rutten, brother-in-laws Ed Jenkins and James Boesch.

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