Merlin B Christianson

Merlin was born in 1931 in Minnesota to the late Bennett and Margaret Christianson and previously resided in Blooming Prairie, MN before settling in East Hartford, CT to work at United Technologies. He graduated from Blooming Prairie High School and later the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s Degree in engineering. Mr. Christianson was employed at the United Technologies Research Center until his retirement in 1992. Even after retirement, Merlin continued using his skills as a project engineer to work on projects for friends and family. He would even craft his own belt buckles out of wood rather than buying new ones. His motto was “Why replace what you can create or fix?” Mr. Christianson was a longtime member of the Faith Lutheran Church as well as an active member of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra Chorale. Mr. Christianson’s devotion to his church included utilizing his woodworking skills for improvements to the church and even handcrafted the frames that house handmade stained glass windows which illuminate the sanctuary.

Merlin married his beloved wife, Bertha, in 1961 after meeting at church. Bertha knew Merlin was the one right away and once wouldn’t allow him into her parents’ house until he had proposed. According to Merlin, he was rather hungry and proposed to get in for dinner, which smelled very, very good. Merlin and Bertha made their life in East Hartford and were devoted to each other, their family, and their church. Merlin and Bertha truly cherished the time they spent as a family. While working as a project engineer, Merlin also honed his skills of woodworking and craftsmanship, as well as becoming an accomplished steel guitar player.

In addition to his parents and wife, Bertha, Merlin is predeceased by his daughters-in-law, Donna Christianson of CT and Ruth Christianson of Rochester NY; and his granddaughter Rachael Christianson also of Rochester.

Merlin is survived by and will be dearly missed by his brothers David and Lavern, both of MN; daughter Ruth Broxup and husband Christopher Broxup of Williamsville, NY; and sons Daniel Christianson, of Rochester, NY, and David Christianson, of Mansfield CT. He is also survived by the lights of his life, his grandchildren: John, Paul, Sarah, and Emily Broxup; Rebecca Perotti and husband Seth Perotti; Brendan Christianson; and his beloved great-granddaughter, Sabrina Perotti. Finally, Merlin is survived by his treasured cat, Alvina.

A period of visitation will be held on Monday, November 29, 2021 at Newkirk and Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Avenue, East Hartford from 3-6pm. A church service will follow on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Faith Lutheran Church, 1120 Silver Lane, East Hartford at 10:00am. Interment will immediately follow at Neipsic Cemetery, 1389 Neipsic Road, Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Merlin’s name to St. Jude’s at StJude.org/Donate. For an online memorial, please visit www.NewkirkAndWhitney.com.