Robert S. Merhar, 98, dies

Robert S. Merhar, 98, passed away peacefully Wed., April 9, 2014 at the Kinnic Nursing Home facility in River Falls, WI. At the request of the deceased there are to be no services or viewing.
His remains will be cremated and his ashes interred in his son, Robert Brian Merhar’s family plot.
Robert was born and raised in Ely. His father, a miner, died when he was 10 years old, leaving his mother Anna with three children, aged 10, 8 and 6 years old with no source of income or assets except for their home in Ely.
Robert was a graduate of Ely Jr. College and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in business administration and accounting and was then the third person from Ely to attain a college degree. His tuition, room and board were paid for from the jobs he held while attending classes.
During his life he enjoyed an active and varied life beginning during WW II as Chief Field Officer for the United States Navy Ordinance (Munitions) Plant located in Carbondale, Illinois. Following the war he was IRS supervisor and examiner for Southern MNCorporate Accounts. He was based in Mankato, MNwith his wife Carolyn and his two sons, Robert Brian and Randall Patrick Merhar. He later was employed by the Small Business Administration in Sioux Falls, SD as Chief Financial Officer for the Rocky Mountain States until his retirement at age 65. Following his retirement he assisted many in his business fields of business financing and tax consulting charging them fees based on their ability to pay.
He loved to travel and visited every state in America, most of Canada and Mexico. He toured Europe spending much of his time in Slovenia, birthplace of his parents.
He credited much of his success to two of his favorite slogans “A rolling stone gathers no moss” and the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
He adopted a short rhyme by his son Robert Brian as best describing his life, entitled “Life’s Lesson.”
“If you sit and wonder why? life will always pass you by,
But if you do your best to try, you’ll grow wings and learn to fly.
Not content to just survive, make things happen, be alive,
For anyone can coast downhill but climbing mountains takes great skill,
You may fall and you may fail, but if you don’t quit you will prevail,
If you survive life’s hard blows your heart and mind and spirit grow,
Until one day you’ll look back and see, your hard work has set you free.”
Robert is survived by his sons: Robert Brian Merhar of Hudson, WI and Randall Patrick Merhar of Denver, CO; his grandsons: Brian P. Merhar of Woodbury, MN, Cassidy Braido of Denver, CO ; grandaughters: Melanie Braido of Denver, CO and Christine, of Lancaster, Ohio; and many great grandchildren.
Robert’s burial marker will read “In this world of copies he was one of the originals.” His remains will be interred at Guardian Angels church cemetery in Oakdale, Minnesota.