Merlin E. Tinken

Merlin Eugene Tinken, the son of Norval and Lillian (Hamlin) Tinken was born March 13, 1926 in Very Township Humboldt County, Iowa and passed away on August 30, 2002. As a child he made his home with his family in the Bradgate and Havelock areas before moving back to the home place in 1936. He graduated in 1943 from Gilmore City High School, and following his education, served in the United States Army. After his discharge, he returned home to farm with his father. He was united in marriage to Vergie Janssen on July 2, 1950 and the couple made their home on the farm. In addition to farming, Merlin was a dealer for Ritchie Waterers and for Archer Oil for 30 years. Mrs. Tinken passed away in 1991 and he continued to maintain his home on the farm until moving to Humboldt in March of 2001. He returned to the farm in June of this year.

Mr. Tinken was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, the American Agriculture Movement, and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. He is survived by his son, Lance and his wife, Dee of Humboldt; daughters, Lynnette Stockdale and her husband David, of Humboldt, and LaMona Hellickson of Humboldt; grandchildren, Jim, Nic, and Natalee Stockdale, Justin Hellickson, Ashley Junkmann, and Tyler and Todd Tinken; and great grandson, Lucas Stockdale. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Vergie, and daughter LeAnna Vought.

Dan Schmitt, representing AAM, gave a little talk on what AAM stands for and how Merlin and Vergie were mainstay AAM members. He read the following poem that exemplified Merlin's life.

Consider Tenacity

I walked across my fields of green
Through an orchard wide, scarcely seen.
My meadow scarred only by my neglect,
Cool clear running water demanding respect.

Recollections of my grandfather’s quest
For land to till, to manage, to invest.
Producing food and fiber for his nation.
Committed to stewardship of God’s creation.

Green temples which rose out of dusty hills
Brought not wealth but burdensome bills.
Erosion solved by technology in use,
Desire to produce, stilled by governmental abuse.

Urbanization and its beckoning glitter of gold
Attracted by sisters and brother, I am told.
Society’s priorities of progress and welfare
So easy to follow—so easy to share.

Is preserving land critical, I’m tempted to ask,
When storing our harvest has been such a task?
Who will care for our forefathers’ soil
To feed future generations we cannot spoil?

The silence deafened me as I knelt there and cried
“I am losing the battle...my spirit has died.
I have fallen, Father—and have not others?”
Then the answer...heard by my ancestors and brothers,

“It’s a time for tenacity; consider it well.”