Merlin R. Beal, age 90 of Fox Lake and formerly of Reeseville, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

Visitation for Merlin will be held on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services, 135 Keller Blvd. in Beaver Dam, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. with Revs. Donald Steinberg and Ray Field officiating. Burial will take place at Lowell Cemetery.

Merlin was born on August 18, 1927, the son of Gilbert and Erna (Turk) Beal. On October 3, 1948, he was united in marriage to Elmyra "Nellie" Nell at St. Stephen's Ev. Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam. Farming was Merlin's livelihood, milking 56 cows, and he was also a volunteer fireman in Lowell. In his earlier years, Merlin was a member of Salem Ev. Lutheran Church in Lowell and later Immanuel Lutheran Church in Reeseville.  He also served on the board of directors for the State Bank of Reeseville for over 36 years and pulled the float in the Watertown 4 ^th of July parade. Merlin enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking, snowmobiling, and listening to polka music. He took great pride in his 1967 D19 Allis Chalmers tractor and his 1928 John Deere Hit-and-Miss engine, often showing them at the Dodge County Antique Power Show.

Merlin is survived by his daughter, Karen Beal-Crosby of Lake Mills; son, Gary (Peri) Beal; granddaughter Eleri Beal; brothers, Donald (Joan) Beal of Reeseville, Alan Beal of Waterloo, Roger Beal, Gerald (Lorraine) Beal and Kenneth (Linda) Beal, all of Beaver Dam; and further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Nellie; son-in-law Jack Crosby; sisters-in-law, Charlene and Donna; and other relatives.

Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family.