Promoted to heaven after a brief illness of pancreatic cancer. Merlin was born in Red Wing, MN to Rev. George and Lola (Smith) Bartell. He spent his boyhood in Fredericksburg, IA. He was a graduate of Sutton High School, UNL and was a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran. On Dec. 21, 1974, he married Marlene A Hennings in Omaha. He retired from Lincoln City Libraries. Merlin was an avid student of the bible and from the age of 28, he looked forward to his soon coming Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He is survived by his wife, Marlene; children, Micah Bartell, Leander, TX, Cheryl (Jacob) Widhalm, Lincoln and Aaron Bartell, Lincoln; grandchildren, Bryson, Shea, Shelby, Kelson, Jameson and Aislynn; brothers, George (Jeanne) Bartell, Des Plaines, IL, Eugene (Karen) Bartell, Baltimore, MD, John (Sherrie) Bartell, Sutton, and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Bartell, Sutton, and nieces and nephews.
Merlin was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Thomas Bartell.