J.E. MERLIN ASPLUND

A kind and gentle man, J.E. Merlin Asplund, passed away at La Verendrye General Hospital on Wednesday, July 23, 2003.
Born in Fort Frances, Ont. on Oct. 22, 1925, he attended Robert Moore School and after graduation from Fort Frances High School, he enlisted in the Canadian Navy and served during World War II.
Upon his return, he began employment at O & M Papermill as an electrician and served IBEW as secretary-treasurer for many years. He retired from Boise Cascade in 1988.
Merlin was predeceased by his wife, Betty Asplund on Feb. 1, 1978; his father, John; mother, Anne; and sister, Aleta.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Asplund; his two sons and their wives, Michael and Barbara of Fort Frances, Ont. and Gary Elizabeth of Aurora, Ont.; and brothers, Mel of Fort Frances, Ont., and Iven and wife, Lahla, of Britt, Mn.; and sisters-in-law, Dixie (Ken) Kellar of Fort Frances, Ont., and Joyce (Jack) McLellan of Toronto, Ont.
Also surviving are step-daughters, Nadine Rickards of Calgary, Alta., and Nyla and Bruce Henry, Nancy and Earl Lockman, and Noreen and Gordie Melville, all of Fort Frances, Ont.
Funeral services were held Friday, July 25, 2003 at 2 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1105 Scott St., Fort Frances, Ont.
Visitation was held Thursday, July 24, 2003 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church.
Pallbearers were Joe Puszynski, Mel Watson, Gordon Cornell, Doug Medhurst, Claude DeBenedet, and Don Kerr.
The family requests that in memoriam donations be made to the Zion Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 1105 Scott St., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 1J7 or to Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc., 110 Victoria Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2B7.