Merlin Neil Roers

Link to livestream of Funeral Mass for Merlin Roers:

https://youtube.com/live/LLkpbpmqB4E?feature=share

Merlin Neil Roers

Loyal brother; beloved uncle, nephew, and cousin; dear friend; a tender-hearted, quiet man, who was always willing to offer a helping hand or words of advice, passed away unexpectedly at home in Urbank, MN on June 10, 2023.

Merlin was born on August 11, 1969 to Gertrude and Matthias Roers in Fridley, MN.  An enthusiastic and eager child, Merlin was raised with five siblings in the family home in Brooklyn Park.  A life-long member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Merlin attended grade school at St. Al’s and graduated from Park Center Senior High in 1987.  He graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville with a BA in English and Philosophy in 1991 and a Master’s of Divinity in 1996.  Merlin’s early careers included working for his Uncle Rollie’s law firm, the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C., the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis’ Tribunal Office, and the University of St. Thomas as a campus minister and resident hall advisor.

In 2005, Merlin bought his Roers grandparent’s house in Urbank, which was his home for the past 18 years.  Much of that time he spent caregiving for his Grandma Dorn, helping her live independently in her farmhouse until her death.  Merlin embraced rural life, working with several cousins to milk cows, harvest crops, paint barns, etc., and enthusiastically took on the primary responsibilities for the family farm. He served as an Urbank City Councilman, a township election judge, and the Urbank City Administrator.

Merlin was a well-read scholar, genealogist, historical preservationist, collector, and world traveler.  He immersed himself in the study of the rituals and symbolisms of the Catholic faith.  He was proud of his Polish heritage and belonged to the Polish Genealogical Society of MN and the Polish American Cultural Institute of MN.  He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.  Merlin will be remembered as a gentle, empathetic, thoughtful, principled, and tenacious man, who was passionate about the people and things he loved and cared deeply about, especially his family.

Throughout his life, Merlin enjoyed participating in and watching many team sports, including basketball and baseball and was a devoted fan at his nieces and nephews’ sporting events.  He had been a member of bowling teams and rowing crews.  Merlin also ran several marathons, including races in Washington, D.C. and the Twin Cities.  He reveled in a good card game and was usually victorious in games that drew on his keen memory, such as Trivial Pursuit.  Merlin was a master recycler and delighted in finding treasures, for bargain prices, at estate/rummage/church sales just “for the memory”, to use for projects he planned to do, or to that he knew would be helpful to others.

Our hearts are broken to have him taken so suddenly, yet we rejoice that he is reunited with those who have gone before him, including his parents and grandparents Clara & Edmund Roers and Victoria & Arthur Dorn, Sr.  He will be deeply missed by siblings Maureen (Mark Frank), Monica, Marty, Michelle (Matt Kelly), and Maurice (Sarah); nephews Matthew, Marshall, and Mason Frank, and August Roers; nieces Morgan Frank, Lilyanna Kelly, and Arcadia Roers; great-niece Zola’Ann Fowlkes, 7 aunts, 5 uncles, numerous cousins, and countless dear friends.

Wake will be Thursday, June 15 from 3pm to 7 pm at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center (in the school gym).  Rosary will be said by the Knights of Columbus at 5:30, followed by parish prayers.  His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 16 at 1pm, with visitation beginning at 11:30 at Sacred Heart Church, Urbank.  Burial immediately following in the church cemetery.  Memorials preferred for Ukrainian relief in Poland (via cash/checks to Michelle Roers at 17 Redwood Road, Morristown, NJ 07960).  Michelle will forward all donations to a Polish foundation supporting Ukrainian refugees in Gdansk led by Merlin’s relative, Joanna Klimek Czerska.