Mervin Junker was born on February 2, 1943, in Mountain Lake, MN, to Henry and Irene Gilling Junker. He grew up on a farm in Cottonwood County, MN, until 1951 when the family moved to a farm near St. James, MN.
Mervin graduated from St. James High School in 1962 and drove truck for Hormell. On February 3, 1964, he and Shirley Randall were married in Mountain Lake. Following their marriage, they made their home in St. James. To this union a daughter Shelley was born. The family later moved to North Mankato, MN where Mervin worked as a police officer before moving to Minneapolis for a short time. They then returned to St. James and Mervin worked with his parents operating their Drive-In. After selling the Drive-In, Mervin returned to trucking. Mervin and Shirley later divorced. Mervin continued to live and work in the St. James area for a few years before moving to the Twin Cities and then to Afton, MN where he drove truck for different companies and later owned and operated his own trucking company. Mervin was a firm GOP member with a Pro-Trump and Pro-Life stance. He retired in 2015 and moved to Tracy to be near family.
Mervin passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at the age of 82. He attended Tracy Alliance Church. Mervin enjoyed spending time with his daughter and her family, riding his motorcycle, old country gospel music, and animals, especially his cats.
Survivors include his daughter, Shelley Schwartz, and her husband, Scott of Garvin; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Skylar and Jessi Schwartz, Spencer and Ashlynn Schwartz, Sterling and Karly Schwartz, Sierra and Malachi Breczinski, Sianna and King Onah, Sawyer and Madelyn Schwartz, and Sarena Schwartz, 14 greatgrandchildren, Cecilia, Harvey, Maeve, Clark and June Schwartz, Elias, Lyla, Emmy and River Schwartz, Kenny and Mia Schwartz, Selah and Neveah Breczinski, and King Jr. “KJ’ Onah, one brother-in-law, Russ Vanderhoff of Spencer, IA, and several nieces and nephews and their families. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sibling Delores and Werner Frankamp and Marlys Vanderhoff.
Funeral Services are at the Tracy Alliance Church on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Thor Burntvedt officiating. Pallbearers are Skylar Schwartz, Spencer Schwartz, Sterling Schwartz, Sawyer Schwartz, Malachi Breczinski, and King Onah. The honorary pallbearers are Brett Vanderhoff, Troy Vanderhoff and Calvin Vanderhoff. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements. To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com
