Merlin A. Johnson, 72, Lyons, WI, died Monday, May 9, 2011 at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee. Merlin was born Sept. 29, 1938, in Argyle, WI, the son of Chester and Ellan Coleman Johnson. United in marriage to Yvonne L. McKinney Jan. 25, 1971 at the Como Community Church, Lake Como, WI. Charter member of the Lions Club, Lyons. Merlin was a barber in Lake Geneva and Lyons for several years, and owned and operated Bonnie & Betty's Resaturant & Tavern in Lyons for 40 years. Served in the U.S. Army. Surviving is his wife Yvonne, daughter Elizabeth (Hector) Ibarra, Burlington; son Eric, of Lyons; grandchildren Brandon, Lauren and Kelsey Ibarra, and Jacob and Ryan Johnson; great-grandchildren Elijah Nutting and Noah Rebiceck; sisters Nora Ostby, Durand, IL, Marion (Junior) Tollakson, Argyle, and Irene (Freeman) Hanson, Monroe. Preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and two brothers.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Steinke Funeral Home, Lake Geneva, with Rev Robert Kamps of the Como Community Church, Lake Como, WI, officiating. Interment will be at the Southeast Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery, Union Grove. Visitation will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to time of services. For online obituary and guest registry, go to www.steinkefuneralhomeinc.com.