Merwyn ‘Mert’ Hurlburt
Oct. 25, 1937 — Oct. 1, 2016
Merwyn ‘Mert’ Hurlburt, age 78, of Lone Rock, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, at the Hawkeye Care Center in Bancroft. Funeral services were Wednesday at Lone Rock Presbyterian Church in Lone Rock with Rev. Walter Reemtsma officiating. Burial will be in Fenton Township Cemetery.
Merwyn Harvey Hurlburt was born on Oct. 25, 1937 to Ralph and Emma (Rath) Hurlburt in Algona. He attended school in Lone Rock and graduated in 1955.
On Sept. 2, 1956, Mert was united in marriage to Donna Zumach at Lotts Creek Lutheran Church. Mert was a lifelong farmer and had a passion for animals.
He loved being the Bucket Calf Guy at the Kossuth County Fair and received the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame Award in 2007. He enjoyed spending time in his woodworking workshop building and restoring furniture, going on motorcycle trips and attending music shows.
Mert was known as the Happy Train Guy and had a lending hand for anyone in need. He served as a Lone Rock Presbyterian Church Trustee, Kossuth County Assessor Board member for 21 years, the Kossuth County Board member for 30-plus years and was a member of Lone Rock Community Club for 30-plus years.
Left to cherish Mert’s memory is his wife of 60 years, Donna of Lone Rock; children: Candyce (Donn) Rochette of Fenton; Andy (Trudy) Hurlburt of Nixa, Mo.; Tony (Theresa) Hurlburt of Lone Rock; Terry (Theresa) Hurlburt of Aurora, Colo.; Christine (Jeff) Canepa of Morgan Hill, Calif.; and Stacie (Tom) Vanderplaat of Sheldon; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Junior Hurlburt of Lone Rock and two sisters, Rita Schroeder of Lone Rock and Rachael Nilsen of Monroe, Ga. He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Katilyn Hurlburt; and sister, Merideth Fairbanks.
The Lentz Funeral Home in Algona is serving the family. Condolences may be left at www.lentzfuneralhome.com.