Merlin W. Sprunger

February 11, 1924 - April 25, 2011

Merlin W. Sprunger, 87, a resident of Berne, Indiana passed away at 3:35 a.m. Monday, April 25, 2011 at the Swiss Village Retirement Community in Berne.

Merlin was born on February 11, 1924 in Adams County, Indiana the son of Joel and Clara (Ellenberger) Sprunger, both deceased. He married Berniece Nussbaum on January 21, 1945 and she preceded him in death in 2005.

Merlin was a member of the First Mennonite Church in Berne where he was a church trustee for sixteen years, an audio technician, and part-time custodian. He was also involved with operating the church shut-in audio system for twenty-seven years. Merlin was a master craftsman whose specialty was repairing, duplicating, and making furniture. He was a former employee of Smith Brothers Furniture of Berne and Reusser Lumber of Berne for sixteen years. Later, he was self-employed operating Sprunger Services.

Merlin had a special interest in his family and his church.

Merlin is survived by a son, Ryan Sprunger of Berne; a daughter, Charlotte (Fred) Linn of Berne; a daughter, Nancy Smith of Berne; a daughter, Sharon (Tom) Ninde of Geneva; a brother, Kenneth Sprunger of Berne; and a sister, Delores Sprunger of Bluffton. Other survivors include six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Merlin was preceded in death by a brother, Arley Sprunger and a sister, LaVera Sprunger.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 28, 2011 at the First Mennonite Church in Berne with the Pastor Jerry Flueckiger and Marie Nussbaum officiating. Interment will be in the M.R.E. Cemetery of rural Berne.

Family and friends will be received 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at the Swiss Village Chapel and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Thursday.

Preferred memorials are to the Swiss Village Samaritan Fund or Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana.