Merlyn H. Bruns, age 91 of New Ulm passed away peacefully on January 1, 2024, at the Sleepy Eye Care Center in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm.  Pastor Jeffrey Bovee will officiate, and burial will follow in the St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in New Ulm where the New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor will provide full military honors.

Visitation will be from 9:30-11:00 a.m. on Saturday at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church prior to the service.

The Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes of New Ulm are assisting the family with arrangements at this time.

To leave an online condolence for his family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Merlyn was born December 4, 1932, in Courtland, Minnesota to Anna (Havemeier) and Arthur Bruns. He was the fourth born of six boys.  His family moved to various locations in southern Minnesota and he graduated from Waterville High School in 1951.  On December 10, 1957 he was united in marriage to Arleen Lange in St. Peter, Minnesota.  They eventually settled in Waterville, Minnesota where they lived for 30 years before retiring to New Ulm, Minnesota in 2004.

Due to love of country, the military and patriotism, he enlisted in the army in 1953 and eventually completed his service with 20 years in the Minnesota National Guard.  In 1961 he graduated from Mankato State University in Secondary Education. He spent 30 years in several schools in Minnesota teaching Industrial Arts, History and Driver's Education finally retiring in 1997. He had a special love for teaching and helping his students.  In 1971, as he missed the land and the farming life of his youth, he moved the family to a farm near Waterville where he worked the land and tended animals until his retirement.  Always a very hardworking man, his life was full with these three pursuits to provide well for the family he loved. And he made a difference in each.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Arleen (Lange) Bruns of New Ulm, Minnesota; daughters Kris (George) Felber of Luck, Wisconsin, Wendy (Mike) Grob of New Ulm, Minnesota; grandchildren Emily (Al) Decker of Cincinnati, Ohio, Wesley Grob of New Ulm, Minnesota; nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and many wonderful friends and family.