Mearl Dean William Baarts

Mearl Dean William Baarts, age 82, of Truman, passed away on May 14, 2018 at Heartland Senior Living in Truman.  Visitation will be Friday evening, May 18, 2018 from 5-7 PM at Zaharia Family Funeral Home, 102 E. Ciro Street, Truman and one hour prior to the service at church.  Funeral Service will be at 10:30 AM Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1200 N. North Ave. Fairmont. Interment will follow at Ridgelawn Memorial Park, rural Truman.  Zaharia Family Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. www.ZahariaFamilyFuneral.com Mearl was born January 28, 1936 to Wilhelm and Irene (Wegner) Baarts in Fairmont.  He attended school in Truman and worked at The Truman Public School for 24 years and Truman Farmers Elevator/CFS for 17 years.  Amazingly, he did this all while tending to the family farm.  On May 22, 1954 Mearl married Lorna Laue at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fairmont.  To this union six daughters were born.  As the girls were growing up, he enjoyed teaching them to be self-sustaining women with regards to car maintenance and changing tires.  Lorna and Mearl spent many days driving in the area checking out the crops, and they loved to go out to eat together.  He was a recent member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairmont, where he was a trustee, usher and proud member. The legacy Mearl leaves to his family is that of the family’s Century farm.  His strong faith in God is something he displayed for all to see. He had a love for his collection of toy tractors, as well as the life-sized versions. Mearl is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lorna Baarts of Truman; daughters, Jean Liebenstein of Dundas, Betty (Scott) Wink of Truman, Bonnie (Keith) Skluzacek of Faribault, Sherry (Tom) Hansen of Truman, Dawn Baarts of Dundas, and Denise Baarts of New Ulm; 11 grandchildren, Jordan (Liz) Liebenstein, Jessica (Grant) Christensen, Jillian (Rick) Kuntz, Christina (Steve) Koedam, Leahet (Josh Conly) Wink, Charles (Emily) Skluzacek, Benjamin (Ashley Sanderson) Skluzacek, Kate Skluzacek, Adam (Shirley Abear) Hansen, Tony (Kendra) Hansen, and Cody Hansen; 12 great-grandchildren, Alex, Aiken, Gretchen, Gustus, Cowen, Maggie, Matthew, Morgan, Elliot, Mia, Macy and Deric; brothers-in-law, Arlen “Bud” Berhow, Elroy Dokken, Alan Templeton, Darvin (Ann) Laue; sisters-in-law, LaVonne (Rollie) Olson, Ardis (Duane) Lennartson, Karen Rossow, Elaine Gravelle, and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, John Liebenstein; sisters, Norine Baarts and Shirley Berhow; parents-in-law D.F. and Wilhelmina Laue; brothers-in-law, Walter Laue, Larry Laue and David Laue; and sisters-in-law Deloris Dokken, Lois Templeton, and Norma Laue.