Lisa Janelle (Pahls) Merklein, 62, passed away in Salina, KS, on March 12, 2026, after an 8-year battle with breast cancer. She was born on August 26, 1963, in Beloit, Kansas, to Lawrence and Elizabeth Jean (Schroeder) Pahls.
Lisa grew up on a farm southwest of Tipton, KS. She graduated with the Class of 1981 from Tipton High School and later received a business certificate from Beloit Vo-Tech.
Lisa met her future husband, Dale, while working at the John Deere dealership in Stockton, KS. They were married on October 26, 1985, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Tipton, making it extra special with the Royals winning their first World Series on that day. They recently celebrated 40 years of marriage.
In 1986, they moved to Salina, where Lisa worked as a secretary for a construction company before starting her 30-year career with Dillons. Although she was forced into early retirement due to her cancer diagnosis, she never let that stop her from doing the things she loved.
Lisa enjoyed working with her plants and flowers, gardening, and making her famous varieties of cookies, pickles, and other canned goods. Her family and friends always looked forward to her homemade goodies and special holiday treats. She and Dale loved buying and selling antiques together and repurposing the old into something new. She also loved collecting old cookbooks and trying out vintage recipes, often using Dale as her “guinea pig.” She enjoyed annual trips to vintage markets and craft shows, always managing to come home with something she just had to have. Another favorite pastime was attending her nieces’ and nephews’ sporting events, concerts, twirling, and dance competitions. They often spent a night or two with Lisa and Dale, where she would spoil and love them like her own. Lisa never missed a birthday or anniversary, always sending a card to wish you well. Lisa was one of a kind and will truly be missed by all who loved and knew her.
Lisa is survived by her husband, Dale, of the home; her mother, Jean, of Tipton, KS; sister-in-law, Lauri, of Tipton, KS; brother, Brent (Jennie), of Sylvan Grove, KS; sister-in-law, Sally (Mark) Pywell, of Burdett, KS; brother-in-law, Dwight (Zita), of Thermopolis, WY; nephews and nieces, Dustin (Alisa) Pahls, of Downs, KS; Ashley Pahls (Jason Roy), of St. Louis, MO; Lane Pywell, of Laurel, MD; Hannah, Mina, Kenny, and Jesse Pahls, of Sylvan Grove, KS; and great-nephews Soren and Vance Pahls, of Downs, KS.
She was preceded in death by her father, Lawrence; her brother, Brian; and her grandparents, Herman and Helen Schroeder and Cap and Anna Pahls.
Visitation with family will begin at 4:00 PM Wednesday, March 18, with a Rosary service to follow at 6:00 PM at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Tipton, KS. A Christian Mass will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, March 19, at the church. Final resting place will be St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to St. Boniface Catholic Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Shriners Children’s Hospital. Roberts Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at www.robertsfamilyfs.com.