Merle Eugene Vokoun

Merle Eugene Vokoun was born December 17, 1942, to William and Lena Halverson Vokoun in Albert Lea. He attended New Richland Schools. Merle served in the United States Army from 1964 - 1966. He worked as a Police Officer for the City of Albert from November 1966 until his retirement in January 1993. On December 23, 1992, Merle was united in marriage to Kathy White Melom in Albert Lea. He was a member of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church and the American Legion. Merle loved the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved campfires and camping. He enjoyed spending time at his farm where he was raised, whether gardening with Kathy, mowing, working on equipment, or just enjoying the beauty and tranquility of the farm. Merle loved traveling with Kathy in their motor home to Arizona and on many hunting and fishing trips until his health started failing. He loved all animals and watching animal shows. Merle liked listening to talk radio and enjoyed meeting his friends for "Happy Hour" and exchanging a joke or two. Survivors include his wife, Kathy of Hartland; step children: Kristin Allison of Lake Mills, Scott and Holly Melom of Granger, IA, and Heather and Mario Encinosa of Tallahassee, FL; step grandchildren: Brooke and Megan Allison and Donavon, Ashley, Zachary, and Skylar Melom; brothers and sisters-in-law: Tom and Wendy White of Port Townsend, WA, Chuck and Paula White of Mankato, and Bill White of Lexington, SC; mother-in-law, Jean White of New Richland; nephew, Ronald and Pamela Vokoun and their children: Tami, Theresa, Tim, and granddaughter, Izibel; and cousins. Merle was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert; and, most recently, his Black Lab, "Jackson," on August 10, 2005. Memorials are preferred to Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, Crossroads Community Hospice, or the American Legion. He will be missed. Blessed be his memory.