Merle Thomas Bleichner

The memorial service for Merle T. Bleichner will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Byron United Methodist Church with Pastor Sharon Nelson officiating.Burial will be in the Bearhead Union Cemetery in Pillsbury, MN at a later date.Visitation will be held Friday, March 30, 2012 from 5:00 8:00 p.m. at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes and one hour before the service at church on Saturday. Mr. Bleichner, 79, of Byron, formerly of Yates City, IL, died March 12, 2012 at the Stewartville Care Center in Stewartville of complications from Parkinson's disease, Lewy Body Dementia and a stroke. Born May 14, 1932 in Elmwood, IL to Carl R. and Mamie E. (Rupp) Bleichner.He farmed with his parents and in 1954 worked at the Sugar Creek Creamery in Peoria, IL.In 1966 he was employed at Stafford Dairy in Peoria, IL.He moved to the Minneapolis, MN area in 1969 and was employed at May Brothers (Gateway Foods) until his retirement in 1992. He married Beverly Walters on June 5, 1956 and Fran Waldon on January 5, 1963.Both marriages ended in divorce.On December 5, 1981 he married Julene Welck.They recently celebrated their 30th anniversary. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, playing cards, watching Chicago Cubs baseball, and listening to polka music. Survivors include his wife, Julene; four sons, Tim, Carl (Amy), both of Peoria, IL, Steve of Anoka, MN, and Tony of Phoenix, AZ; two step daughters, JoDene (Glen) Carr of Andover, MN and Janel (Mitch) Welck-Vest of Columbus, MS; 13 grandchildren; a sister, Alice Johnson of Hanna City, IL; a brother, Harold Bleichner of Yates City, IL; and sister-in-law, Lois Bleichner of Yates City, IL.He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Robert, Clifford, and Glenn Bleichner; and two sisters, Sharon Bleichner and Ruth Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Byron United Methodist Church or the Parkinson's Research Foundation. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN55901 (507) 289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com