Merilyn Ann (nee Nissen) Bohlman Childre

Merilyn went to be with her Savior on Wednesday, April 25th, 2018. Her last weeks were peaceful and comfortable thanks to the extraordinary care of the Vitas Hospice staff at Ruth House. The family would like to sincerely thank Adina, Anastasia, Anita, Brenda, Cora, Dawn, Diane, Jennifer, Julia, Kelly, Kylie, LaShawn, Lisa, Maggie (Princess Margaret), Rhonda, Nikki, Chris, Elizabeth, John, and doctors Sincaban, Munoz, and Solis.

Merilyn was preceded in death by her father Clarence, mother Hilda and husbands Ralph Bohlman and Clifford Childre. She is survived by sons James Bohlman and John Bohlman (Carol Ormand) and grandson Forrest Stevens. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to King of Glory Lutheran Church in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Merilyn was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Bay View. She attended Humboldt Parks school and then Bay View High school. She was in the band where she played Clarinet and learned to love music. She was a member of Job’s Daughters where she was once crowned Honored Queen. She was also briefly a member of the Eastern Star. She graduated from Carroll College where she met many life-long friends. She worked for her father at Milwaukee Crane and Hoist Corporation where she met her first husband, Ralph Bohlman. They attended Calvary Presbyterian church where they were married in 1957.

After living briefly in Hales corners, Merilyn and her husband moved to McFarland, Wisconsin where they became members of McFarland Lutheran Church. She was a founding member of Elizabeth Bible Circle and the Main Street Coalition (MSC), an interfaith group of neighborhood women.

When her sons were in High School, she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and earned a Masters’ degree in Home Economics. When her beloved parents became elderly, she returned to Milwaukee to care for them. It was at this time that she met and married Clifford Childre, and the two had a very loving relationship until he passed in 2006. Afterwards she would refer to this time as a “sweet and peaceful dream.”

She enjoyed spending time at the cottage with family and friends. She had a beautiful garden which she called her symphony. She had a refrigerator covered in pictures of people she loved. She treasured kindness and civility. We will miss her.

Services will be at the King of Glory Lutheran Church (4330 S. 84th St., Greenfield) on Saturday, May 5. A Visitation will take place at 10 AM with a service to follow at 11 AM. Private interment at Arlington Park Cemetery.