Merlin Alvin Gerber
October 07, 1937 - January 17, 2026
Obituary
LIVESTREAM SERVICE:
Merlin’s Livestream Service will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Friday, February 6, 2026. Scroll down to the Webcast section and click on “Watch Now.”
MADISON - Merlin A. Gerber, age 88, died on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Meriter Hospital surrounded by family. He was born October 7, 1937, in Granton, Wis., the son of Alfred and Aurelia Gerber. Merlin married LaVonne Mills on May 4, 1957. They had two sons, Scott and Steven.
Merlin attended University of Wisconsin-Stout, University of Wisconsin-Madison, served an Apprentice Indenture and in 1963, was certified by The Industrial Commission of Wisconsin as a journeyman tool and die maker, working in the trade for 17 years. In 1975, he was employed by The State of Wisconsin Vocational, Technical and Adult Education System as a circuit instructor, traveling to many of the technical college districts in the state teaching apprentices. In 1988, he was employed at Madison Area Technical College as an instructor in the Machine Tooling Technics program, retiring in 2003. Merlin was a member of the National Guard 32nd Red Arrow Infantry Division and was called to duty on October 25, 1961, in Fort Lewis, Wash., during the Berlin Crisis.
After retirement, Merlin and LaVonne purchased a Casita in Green Valley, Ariz., where they spent winters enjoying the views of the Santa Rita Mountains. Merlin enjoyed many Canadian fishing trips with his best buddies, Jim, Ken and Pat; travels to New Zealand, Australia, Paris and Alaska; deer hunting on the family farm land; carpenter work with best buddy, Jim Pfaff; and wine making. Merlin was a member of the Lakeview Lutheran Church, Madison Elks and the American Legion, Neillsville, Wis.
Merlin was a devoted husband, father, grandfather; a deep thinker, good listener, hard worker, honest and kind. He had quick wit and was incredibly organized and took great pride in doing things the right way.
Merlin is survived by his wife, LaVonne; sons, Scott (Debbie) and Steven (Allison); brother, Lowell (Arcey); grandchildren, Eric, Amy, Jennifer and Casey; great-grandchildren, Ava, Rosie, Madeline and William; sisters-in-law, Sally (Richard) Miller, Patricia Gerber and Kaye Mills Beale (Duane); cousin, Shirley Krause Smith (Arlo); and brother-in-law, Allen (Helen) Mills. He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Lee and Henrietta Mills; brothers, Alfred, Harland and Walter; and brother-in-law, Gary Mills.
A memorial service will be held at Lakeview Lutheran Church, 4001 Mandrake Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026. Family and friends who wish to view the service via LIVESTREAM may visit Merlin’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at the time of the service and click on “Watch Now” in the Webcast section. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to a favorite charity or to Lakeview Lutheran Church food bank. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420