Bemidji Resident Kenny Merschman, 96, Funeral Set This Week

Kenny Merschman, 96, of Bemidji died Thursday, Jan. 8, in his home, family members reported. Born June 16, 1929, Merschman was a fixture in the local community for decades, and funeral arrangements were announced this week by Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Jan. 15, at St. Philip’s Catholic Church. Visitation is scheduled to begin one hour before the Mass. Following the service, interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family has asked that memorials be directed to St. Philip’s Catholic School.

For many in Beltrami County, public rites such as a parish Mass and cemetery interment provide important opportunities to grieve collectively and to mark the contributions of neighbors across generations. St. Philip’s serves families across Bemidji and surrounding areas, and requests for memorial gifts to the parish school underscore a preference for honoring Merschman’s memory through local investment in education.

Funeral services are being coordinated by Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Service, which is handling arrangements. Details on visitation and service times were released to help friends and parishioners plan to attend and to provide space for communal support.

The passing of a long-lived resident resonates beyond immediate family circles in a smaller community. Public acknowledgments and scheduled services offer structured ways for neighbors, former classmates, parishioners and community organizations to express sympathy and remember a life rooted in Bemidji. Memorial contributions directed to St. Philip’s Catholic School will go to an institution that serves local children and families, reflecting a common practice among families who prefer donations to local causes in lieu of flowers.

Residents seeking more information about the service or interment arrangements may contact Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Service. The family’s request for memorials to benefit St. Philip’s Catholic School highlights how individual legacies can link personal remembrance with ongoing community needs in Beltrami County.