Merlin "Mert" Zoucha, Sr.

Merlin Gene Zoucha “Mert”, 77, of Oshkosh passed away Friday April 9, 2021 at his home.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 15, 2021 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Scotty Ray officiating.  Masonic Rites will be rendered by Oshkosh Lodge #286.  Burial will follow in the Oshkosh City Cemetery.

Memorials in Mert’s name can be made to the Oshkosh Masonic Lodge #286 or St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Zoucha family.

Merlin Gene was born on April 13, 1943 in Lewellen to John and Muriel (Stickney) Zoucha.  He attended his grade school years at School District #68 north of Oshkosh near the ranch where he was raised.  His 4 years of high school were in Curtis, Nebraska which was then the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture (UNSA), graduating in 1961.  He made many lifelong friends while there many of whom he is celebrating with again today.

On November 8, 1961 he and Janet Robb married in Hot Springs, South Dakota.  They have 2 sons, Merlin Jr. of North Platte and Curtis of Houston, TX.

When he and Babe closed the auto body repair shop, he went to work for the postal service part time as a clerk and later as a sub-carrier for Bill Hines.  He was employed at Marshalltown part time as well.  Things were tough, but he was determined to get that rural route job full time when Bill retired.  He succeeded and 32 years later he retired from this job and still had patrons thanking him for his kindness and consideration.  He was appreciated.  He was proud of the fact that he never had an accident in those of years on the route.

Mert loved having sheep and raised them until age caught up to him.  He and his brothers, John, George, and their wives went into the sheep business for a few years.  Oh, what a great family project that was!  He loved it.

Oh, and don’t forget if you had an old antique car laying in your ravine or pasture long forgotten he knew it was there and eventually would check it out.  Many of those old HEAPS he got to run.  Unbelievable!!

Merlin was a member of Oshkosh Masonic Lodge #286, Oshkosh OES #264, Shriners, and the Scottish Rites.  He was responsible for keeping the local AA group going for many years and was a 23-year medallion holder himself.  He helped many people through some very trying times and come to some form of peace and serenity in their lives and their families’ lives.  He will be missed by so many.

Mert is survived by his wife of 59 years; sons, Merlin Jr. and Curtis; grandchildren, Taylor, Michael, Rhiannon, Freddi, and Hope; 7 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Lois Lipsey and Rebecca Miller; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Shirley (Hershall) Allen, bothers, George (Donna) and John (Sherrill), and grandson, Jesse Baladez.