Merle Clark Thompson

Merle was born January 22, 1935, in Forest City, Iowa. He died on February 10, 2026, with his family by his side in the hospice unit of Mayo Rochester Methodist Hospital.

He was the son of Clark and Eunice (Hana). His mother passed away when he was 6. His father later married Mary (Hartford).

Merle graduated valedictorian from Lakeville High School where he competed in football, basketball, baseball and track and field. In 2017 he was inducted into the Lakeville Panther Athletic Hall of Fame.

After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and proudly served 4 years during the Korean War. He was aboard the U.S.S. Leyte during his tour of duty. During that time, he married his wife (Martha) Jane Cherry in 1956.

After the Navy, he attended the University of Minnesota and received his bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering.

Merle and Jane settled in Rochester in 1963 where he worked at IBM for his entire career. Merle volunteered many years for the Rochester Police Department and the City of Rochester.

He enjoyed all types of music--especially classical, opera, bluegrass, and ragtime. He sang tenor with the Rochester Medicine Men Barbershop Chorus and served as its president for a year. Merle was an accomplished piano player. There was always music in the house—the guitar, record player, piano or Merle singing. He also had a passion for words, had a wicked vocabulary and was a master crossword puzzler. Merle always had a joke at the ready, which his grandchildren loved.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Holly, and his mother, father, stepmother, sister, and brother.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jane of Rochester, his daughter Dr. Julie Thompson and husband (Dr. Fernando Peña) of Wayzata, grandchildren Gavin, Maggie, and Joe. Also survived by Tracy Khan (Nasir) and their children.

The family will hold a private memorial service. Burial will be at Fort Snelling.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your preferred charity.