Meryle Honn

Meryle S. Honn, 89, of Waukon, IA, died Friday, April 29, 2022, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 3rd, at 11:00 AM at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Monday at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.

Meryle Swenson Honn was born December 30, 1932, in rural Allamakee County near Forest Mills, IA, the son of Roy Louis and Pearl Ann (Swenson) Honn. He attended rural country schools in Allamakee County and graduated from Waukon High School in 1952. Meryle served in the United States Air Force from 1952 until 1956 during the Korean War, where he did bomb demolition; after the war, he was involved in testing of atomic bombs.

On December 21, 1954, he married Linda Baumgartner at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon, IA. After being discharged, they moved to Postville, IA, where he worked at the meat packing plant for one year. He and Linda then moved to Ludlow Township, rural Waukon, in 1957, where they milked cows and raised beef cows, hogs, and crops. In 1986, Meryle went to work for Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company as an insurance adjuster.

He was a member of Salem United Church of Christ, served on the Grinnell Mutual Insurance board, was a member of the VFW, and served on some of the local creamery boards. In 2011, Meryle went on the honor flight to Washington, D.C. He enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, to 28 different countries, and wintering in Texas for many years. Meryle loved spending time with his family and friends and liked attending his grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's activities. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle with the Wednesday Night Riders and taking trips with them to other states. Meryle also enjoyed spending time at his cabin at Upper Iowa Resort near Dorchester, IA, playing golf and cards, hunting and fishing, going for coffee in the mornings, and working in his garden.

Survivors include his daughter Nancy (Donn) Hager of Caledonia, MN; a daughter-in-law Sheri (Rich Wiedner) Honn of Lansing, IA; his significant other of 17 years Mary Cuvelier of Waukon; two grandchildren: Shannon (Jeff) Staggemeier of Spring Grove, MN, and Dustin (Kathy) Hager of Waukon; two step-grandchildren: Cody (Jill) Mathis of New Albin, IA, and Abbi (fiancé Mike McDowell) Mathis of Polk City, IA; four great-grandchildren: Carson and Bentley Hager and Grayson and Renner Staggemeier; three step-great-grandchildren: Layla, Collin, and Levi Mathis; a brother Roger (Shari) Honn of Cedar Rapids, IA; and two sisters-in-law Evelyn Honn Cedar Falls, IA, and Alice (Gary) Bulman of Waukon. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Linda, who died in 1992; a son David in 2012; and a brother Bill Honn.

Honorary casketbearers are Doc Weymiller, Gordy Kaeser, and the Wednesday Night Riders. Casketbearers are Dustin, Carson, and Bentley Hager, Jeff, Grayson, and Renner Staggemeier, and Cody Mathis.