Merle N. Follstad

Merle Norman Follstad, age 86, of Oconomowoc, passed on to eternal life on April 30, 2018 at AngelsGrace Hospice, with his wife and daughter at his side. He was born to Norman John Follstad and Edna Ida (Hinze) Follstad on May 14, 1931 in Milwaukee, WI. Early childhood years were spent in Milwaukee where he attended public schools. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Merle graduated from Rufus King High School. Teen years were spent on the Follstad family farm near Elcho, WI doing a variety of farm chores for his grandmother. He also worked at the Follstad Food Market in Elcho. Along with his father, Merle worked at the Norco Oil Co. in Milwaukee while also attending the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Several years later he continued his education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison earning a Bachelor of Science degree. Merle joined the research staff at the former Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, WI. Here he happily enjoyed working in the laboratory and in the forests and woods in northern Wisconsin. Merle’s next step was joining the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota – St. Paul campus as a graduate student. He received his Master of Science degree in 1961 and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1964 working on microflora of barley. While at the University of Minnesota, Merle met and married Virginia Pauline Miller, a graduate student in the Department of Library Science. This wedding service took place on October 12, 1963 at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, the Dr. Reuben K. Youngdahl officiating. Together they moved to Fresno, CA where Merle joined the staff at the USDA Field Research Station. There he concentrated on strawberry and grape storage. Merle moved on to the research staff at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC concentrating on peanut culture. Next he spent a year at the USDA Regional Research Laboratory in Peoria, IL. Joining the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1968, he retired 30 years later in 1998. Merle was an avid lover of nature and the environment. He is a Legacy member of the Nature Conservancy. His home and acreage in the Town of Cold Spring in Jefferson County was a sanctuary for many birds and animals. There he enjoyed many years of gardening. He treasured listening to classical music and enjoyed countless hours of reading a wide variety of subjects. He was an accomplished woodworker producing a variety of items for his Tre Butikken wood shop. With his wife he enjoyed traveling, especially their trips to visit their son Brian in Boston and Seattle. Travel abroad included visits to Alaska, most Canadian provinces, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Camping in Door County was also a favorite activity. Merle held memberships in a number of professional science associations. He was a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Atkinson. Merle especially enjoyed observing with pride the talents and accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his grandparents, parents, brother Wayne, a nephew, brother-in-law and 2 sisters-in-law. Merle is survived by his loving wife of nearly 55 years Virginia, their daughter Linda Ann (Timothy) Bryan, Oconomowoc and their son Brian David (Lorna) Follstad of Middleton. He was especially proud of his precious grandsons Tyler Bryan, Alex Bryan and Luke Follstad who love their Grandpa. Other family include sister Marlene Sorenson, several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. A private service was held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI. The family extends sincere thanks for Dr. Jeffrey McGuire of UW Health, Fort Atkinson for the many years of professional assistance he gave to Merle, as well as the staff at AngelsGrace Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at the donor’s choice.