Merle Sorum

December 24, 1931 - July 27, 2019

Merle Sorum, age 87, of Spirit Lake, passed away on July 27, 2019 at the Accura Health Center in Spirit Lake. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 1st at Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be 9:30 am until service time on Thursday. Merle Everett Sorum, the son of Edwin and Rose Ann (Weir) Sorum, was born on December 24, 1931 in Estherville, Iowa. He attended Estherville High School before joining the Air Force Nation Guard. On April 13, 1954 Merle was united in marriage with Kolleen Shannon in Lake Field, Minnesota. He had worked at the Estherville Drive-In movie theatre in his younger days and John Morrill in Estherville as a boiler operator. Merle was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Estherville and the Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed scratch off lottery tickets, Power Ball tickets, telling stories, singing, metal detecting, traveling, fishing, scavenging for treasurers in many places, refurbishing appliances, tinkering with old cars, and watching old movies. Merle is survived by his 4 children John (Cheryl) Sorum of Mankato, MN; Sheryl (Alan) Anderson of Lake Field, MN and Dallas / Fort Worth, TX; Jean Marie Smith of Puyallup, WA; and Ronald Sorum of Houston, TX; 7 grandchildren, Jeff, Keith, Abbie, Joel, Alec “Al”, Kellie and Skyler; and 2 great grandchildren Mia and Roman. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Kolleen in 2017; and a brother, Marvin Sorum.