Merlin Dale Janzen, 65, of Balko, OK died Sept. 23, 2020.
Memorial services were held Sunday, Sept. 27, at Crossroads Bible Fellowship with Pastor James Epp officiating. Burial was in Balko Mennonite Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.
He was born Nov. 19, 1954 in Perryton, and married Marsha Rich on Dec. 7, 1984 in Guymon, OK. He was a heavy equipment operator for Unit Drilling, and a water infrastructure manager for Arkhoma for many years. He was a lifetime resident of the area.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 2009; and his father, J. Calvin Janzen, in 1980.
He is survived by one daughter, Torie Archer of Balko, OK; three sons, Rusty Janzen and Beau Janzen, both of Perryton, and Tyler Janzen of Balko, OK; his mother, Caroline Rimer of Perryton; two brothers, David Janzen of Cheyenne, WY and Bruce Janzen of Buena Vista, CO; and three grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to the Tyler Calvin Janzen Trust, in care of Torie Archer, Rt. 2, Box 72, Balko OK 73931.
A Big Kitty
The world record for the largest living cat is an adult male liger — a hybrid of a lion and a tigress — named Hercules, who is housed at the Myrtle Beach Safari, a wildlife reserve in South Carolina. Hercules measures almost 11 feet long, stands 49 inches at the shoulder, and weighs 922 pounds. He eats about 30 pounds of meat every day.