Obituary of Merrill M. Lonnen

Merrill M. Lonnen, 75 of Lyndonville entered into rest on Monday, May 20, 2019 at the United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

Born December 30, 1943 in Medina, he was the son of the late Merrill E. and Grace (Buckland) Lonnen. He graduated from Lyndonville High School, class of 1963. A Vietnam Veteran, Merrill proudly served in the United States Army from 1965-1967. In his younger years he worked in farming. He went on to have a 40 year career as a truck driver and drove for various companies over the years, retiring from Empire Beef in Rochester in 2001. Merrill was a longtime member of the Lyndonville Fire Department. He was also a member of Houseman-Tanner Post #1603 American Legion, the Senior Citizens of Western Orleans, the Johnson Creek Senior Citizen’s Club and the Junior Wilsons Sportsman’s Club.

Merrill is survived by his loving wife, Jacqueline R. (Withey) Lonnen; five children, Daniel (Christine) Houseman, Minnie (Robert) Clark, Kelly (Jon) Howland, James (Emily) Houseman and Jon (Bobbi) Houseman; eleven grandchildren, Brandon (Ashley), Zachary, Felisha and Joshua (Rebeka) Houseman, Kennedy and Jordan Clark, Devon and Derrek Howland, Miya and Tyler Houseman, Alyssa (Devin) Erdle and Emallee Houseman; his “little buddies”, Cole, Jay, Landon and Logan Houseman and Annalee and Bowin Erdle; three sisters, Donna (Gene) Hart, Joanne (James) Mandaville and Beverly (Douglas) Winters; several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews whom where dear to him; and his close friend, Dave Wetherbee.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, May 23^rd from 4-8 p.m. at Cooper Funeral Home, 215 W. Center St., Medina, where his funeral service will be held on Friday, May 24^th at 10 a.m. Rev. Daniel A. Thurber will officiate and burial will be in Lynhaven Cemetery in Lyndonville with full military honors accorded at graveside. A luncheon will follow at the Lyndonville Fire Dept.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lyndonville Fire Dept, P.O. Box 150, Lyndonville, NY 14098 or to Houseman-Tanner Post #1603 American Legion, P.O. Box 402, Lyndonville, NY 14098.