Merrill Longpre, 95

Merrill Longpre, 95, passed away on April 15, 2022, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

The Rosary/Vigil service will be said at 5 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2022, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 26, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Father Rob Cook officiating. Interment will take place in Pinecrest Memorial Park.

Merrill was born on October 13, 1926 in Kingsford, Michigan, and graduated from Kingsford High School. He went to Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. He worked for Bucyrus Erie in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which gave him the opportunity to travel to Japan, Hong Kong and Germany.

Football was a great love of his and he was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers. Photography was another one of his interests. Merrill was a member of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) for many years. He often piloted an ultralight and loved to attend air shows. He loved building radio-controlled airplanes. The outdoors gave him great enjoyment through summertime; camping, traveling across the US, fishing, ATVing and hunting. He shot his first deer at age 88.

When he retired, Merrill and Glada moved to Colorado and enjoyed RVing, fishing and prospecting. There he joined the Lords of Leisure ATV club. Playing cards was also a favorite pastime. They would later move to Sandpoint.

Merrill was preceded in death by Glada, his wife of 65 years.

He is survived by his six children, Susan (Todd) Carver, Linda Longpre, Mary (Bill, deceased) Bleuer, David (Mereani) Longpre, Diane (Bill) Leach, and Jean (Rob) Woolridge; and eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to sign Merrill’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.