Mervin Carl Zysset, 85 of Farnam, NE passed peacefully at Lexington Regional Health Center on April 29, 2021.

Mervin was born at home in rural Frontier County on February 17, 1936 to Carl and Aurie (Buker) Zysset. He was the third of eight children. He started grade school in a rural school south of Eustis and completed grade school at Hiltop District across the road from the home place. He attended high school at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture, graduating in 1953.

After graduation he moved to Colorado and worked for a short time before moving back to the farm. On August 22, 1954 he married Illa Jo Hosick in Curtis, Nebraska and to this union four children were born. They lived and worked on the farm for a year before moving back to Colorado where he began working road construction. They lived in several places in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah before moving back to the farm in 1961. He had many stories to tell about his years in construction including helping pave Wolf Creek Pass. Farming and raising cattle were his number one passion. He was a very involved community member and served on many boards including the Farnam Coop Board, Frontier County Fair Board, Cambridge School Board, Nebraska Charolais Board and the Soil & Water Conservation Board. Serving on some of these boards as well as selling seed corn provided them the opportunity to visit several places including Hawaii and the Bahamas. He was the recipient of the Aksarben Good Neighbor Award and donated the first Charolais calf for the Omaha World Herald’s 13th annual Name the Calf Contest at Aksarben. He enjoyed playing town team basketball and baseball. He was a baseball coach for several years and built a baseball diamond at the farm that was enjoyed by many.

Mervin was a very creative person and designed many things including a covered wagon that saw many miles on wagon train adventures. He always had a way to improve something if he could just weld this to that. He spent a lot of time breaking horses and loved to drive a team of horses. He took his wagon to the State Hand Husking competition at Gothenburg, gave rides on his wagon for several years at Sod House days at the Eustis School and the horse and buggy was enjoyed by many at Old Fashion Saturday Night in Cambridge, some proms and numerous weddings including the wedding of most of his grandchildren.

Mervin is survived by his children, Shauna (Bill) Wiegrefe of Bennington, NE; Kirk (Cari) Zysset of Curtis, Waid (Marilyn) Zysset of Hastings, NE and Miquon (Mark) Sheffield of Curtis, NE. Grandchildren, Shannon (Paul) Lavigne, Aimee Block, Bart (Reba) Deterding, Brooque (Mike) Ellis, Lindsey (Ryan) Deterding, Kyle (Denise) Sheffield, Bryan(Laura) Sheffield, Chris (Hillary) Zysset, Alexandra (Josh) Beck, Randy (Taylor) Sheffield, Matt (Carissa) Zysset, Spencer (Jennifer) Zysset, Jordan (Derek) Banzhaf, Emily (Ryan) Grealish and Brianna Zysset. Great Grandchildren Zoe and Paxton Lavigne; Kaelan, Kash and Karlee Block; Autumn, Brenna and Dakota Deterding: Malachi, Eliana, Isaiah and Keziah Ellis; lla, Joseph, Phillip and Lana Deterding; Hallee and Jozee Sheffield, Paityn and Sage Sheffield; Jaxon and Pyper Zysset, James and Rowan Beck; Rylie and Quynn Sheffield, Lily, Carl, Clara and Vincent Zysset; Braxton, Paicyn and Emmalyn Banzhaf and expected this fall #35 baby Grealish. Siblings Evelyn (Dale) Wolf, Bonnie Herrick, Paul (Enid) Zysset, Lorene Raburn and Janice Quinn. Along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place on Monday, May 3, 2021 from 3:00 PM–6:00 PM at Blase–Wetzel–Strauser Memorial Chapel.

Graveside services will be held at the Arbor Cemetery, Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 11:30 am with Pastor Greg Boller officiating.

Memorials may be given to a meaningful cause to you in memory of Mervin.

Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, April 30, 2021