Mervin J. Marsh, 93, Sauk Rapids

July 11, 1921 - April 7, 2015

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids for Mervin John Marsh, age 93, of Sauk Rapids who died Tuesday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids. Rev. Harvey Ehlers and Rev. Paul Cloeter will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church in Sauk Rapids. Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, Sauk Rapids.

Mervin John Marsh was born July 11, 1921 near Shevlin, Minnesota to Peter and Johanna (Johnson) Marsh. As a small boy the family moved to Montevideo, Minnesota where Mervin grew up. Mervin was an outstanding football player and four year letter winner playing fullback and middle linebacker. Mervin was inducted into the Montevideo Athletic Hall of Fame.

After the attack on Pearl harbor Mervin enlisted in the United States Marine Corp giving up his Division One Football Scholarship to Iowa State University and dream of playing in the Big Ten to serve his country. The marines quickly realized Mervin was a phenomenal swimmer and soon he was teaching soldiers to swim and water survival techniques. Mervin was a lifeguard on both public and military beaches (Pacific Ocean) and was involved in over 250 rescues. One summer he was assigned a beach known for riptides, he received a military commendation for 109 rescues on that beach alone. Sergeant Marsh was Honorably Discharged in 1946 and returned to Minnesota where he was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company until he retired in 1982.

On May 15, 1948 Mervin married Delores Schaeffer at Elbow Lake, Minnesota. The couple lived for a short time in Crookston until an opening with the telephone company was available in Montevideo. In 1963 his construction crew transferred to St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids became their new home. Mervin was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church Sauk Rapids and served many years on the Trinity Cemetery Board. He was a member of the American Legion and the Telephone Company Pioneers Club. Mervin enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, and was especially devoted to his family. Mervin believed in always doing the best job possible at any task, he was a man of faith, courage and duty and lead by example. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Mervin is survived by his wife, Delores of Sauk Rapids; children, Marcus (Christine) Marsh of Aitkin and Margaret Marsh (fiancé Myron Krupka) of Sauk Rapids; grandsons, Jason (Stephanie) Marsh of Carlton and Aaron (Amber) Marsh of Elk River; and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Hiron; and sisters, Dorothy Livingston and Rosella Means.

Our family wished to thank everyone at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home for the excellent and loving care they provided for Mervin.