Former Chesterton resident Merilyn Newman died Thanksgiving
morning, Nov. 27, 2008 at her home in Minnesota surrounded by her family.
She was 71.
She is survived by husband, Ron, of Hackensack, Minn.; sons
Jeff of Santa Garita, Calif., and Ed Goan of Waukesha, Wisc.; granddaughter,
Erika, of New Brighton, Minn.; sister, Brenda (husband Paul), of Staunton,
Virg.; and brother, Ken, of Pequot Lakes, Minn.
She was born May 21, 1937, in Battle Creek, Mich. As a child,
she moved to Chesterton, where she was a cheerleader for the most successful
basketball team in her school’s history. After a stint at Indiana
University, she went to work at the Leo Burnett advertising agency in
Chicago, where she met Ron, her husband of 42 years.
In 1977, the couple and their two sons, Ed and Jeff, moved to
Minnetonka, Minn., where Merilyn continued selling real estate. She soon
became a member of the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, devoting
countless hours, promotional skills and tireless energy to fund-raising. _In
1994, Merilyn and Ron moved to what had been their weekend retreat, a cabin
on Pleasant Lake near Hackensack, Minn., to the great joy of the wild
creatures that she loved and fed. Here Merilyn continued in real estate,
selling lake properties. She also served four years as membership/social
chairman of the Pleasant Lake Association, devoting herself energetically to
its success.
One of Merilyn’s many enthusiasms was photography, at which
she excelled. Another passion was knitting. She produced sweaters for needy
children worldwide in Guidepost Magazine’s Knit for Kids program.
At Merilyn’s request, her life will be celebrated privately
by her family. Memorials can be sent to Good Samaritan Home Care and
Hospice, P.O. Box 315, Nisswa, Minn., 56468.
Arrangements were handled by Kline Funeral Home, Pine River,
Minn.;
klinefuneralhome@hotmail.com
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Posted 12/1/2008
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