Merwin "Merv" A. Bjornstad

Merwin "Merv" A. Bjornstad, 78, of Coon Valley died Wednesday November 28, 2012 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. He was born April 5, 1934 to Julius and Mabel (Vatland) Bjornstad. Merv was baptized and confirmed at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. He graduated from Westby High School in 1953 and served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1958. Merv farmed all his adult life along with his brother Jimmy and cousin Archie Brye on the farm of their grandparents in Timber Coulee. They had a successful milking operation and were especially proud of their purebred Guernsey dairy herd. They would joke with their friends and neighbors how they would have one Holstein cow whose milk was used to rinse their pipeline milking system due to its low butterfat content as compared to their Guernsey's.

Merv was an avid sports fan, especially of baseball. He played with the Coon Valley American Legion Baseball Team in the early 1950's.

Survivors include his sister-in-law Karen Aasen and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jimmy and cousin Archie.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday December 3, 2012 at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. Rev. Mitzi Miyamoto will officiate. Burial with military honors by the Coon Valley American Legion Post #116 will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until service time. The Seland Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at selandsfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be given to the Coon Valley Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice.

The family extends a special thanks and appreciation for the care and compassion given to Merv at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center.