A Celebration of Life will be held for Merlin L. Penrod on Monday, July 30, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Mule Skinner in Oxford, Nebraska.

Merlin Lee Penrod, 79 years of age, of Oxford passed away at his home in Oxford after a brief illness on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Merlin was born February 8, 1933 in Beaver City, Nebraska, the youngest of four children born to Albert and Opal (Shellenbarger) Penrod.

Merlin attended school in Beaver City graduating from Beaver City High School with the class of 1950. On June 23, 1950 Merlin was inducted into the U.S. Navy where he served three years as a personnel man during the Korean Conflict at Naval Support Activity in San Diego, California until his honorable discharge on December 1, 1953.

On May 19, 1952 Merlin was united in marriage to Barbara Schleicher in Beaver City and to this union three sons were born: Stewart, Mark and Barry.

After his military service, Merlin worked for a short time at Schaffer Cleaners in Holdrege, Nebraska. After learning the dry cleaning business, the family moved to Oxford setting out to become entrepreneurs by opening Penrods’ Cleaners which clearly left its mark on the community for years to come with their unique candy-striped building painted for Christmas 1960.

Merlin was an avid sports fan and supporter of local high schools and the University of Nebraska athletic teams. He coached the American Legion Baseball teams throughout most of the 1960s and refereed high school football and basketball during much of that time as well. For a brief period he tried his hand at sports writing as the sports editor for the Oxford Standard and the Holdrege Daily Citizen. In 1969, Merlin started working with the U.S. Post Office as a part-time mail clerk, ultimately becoming a full-time Rural Mail Carrier at which time he sold Penrods’ Cleaners.

Besides his parents, Merlin was preceded in death by one sister, Nettie Park and one brother, Kenneth Penrod.

He is survived by his three sons: Stewart Penrod and his wife, Gail of Lacey, Washington, Mark Penrod and his wife, Nancy of Naples, Italy, Barry Penrod and his wife, Colleen of Bellevue, Nebraska; former wife and friend, Barbara Penrod of Holdrege; one brother, Albert Claire Penrod and his wife, June of Scottsdale, Arizona; 8 grandchildren: Amnart Penrod, Julie Braund, Lorraine Clarke, Pamela Riely, Lindsey Penrod, Kelsey Penrod, Elliott Penrod, Emilee Penrod; 11 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

There will be no visitation as the family is honoring his wish for anatomical donation.

A memorial has been established and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.