Merlin Hubbard

Merlin William Hubbard, 89, of Maple Hill, Kansas, quietly passed away from cancer in the company of loving family in the care of Interim Hospice Services on Saturday, April 4, 2026. Merlin was born June 10, 1936, to Lewis Earl Hubbard and Hazel Sarada Woolf and grew up with brother, Donald Joseph Hubbard, stepbrother, Bud Rogers, and stepsister, Deanna Rogers. He married Sherry Lynn Page and had many loving years with her beautiful children, Scott, Michelle, and Stacy, before their divorce. Years later, Merlin met, fell deeply in love, and married Donna Marie Cook, and the two cultivated a mutual love of square dancing and travel that kept them in a constant stream of adventures. Merlin’s trade in life was as a machinist, and he worked at the Topeka Capital-Journal until he retired. While a machinist in trade, shooting was his passion, and cowboying was his heart stemming from a heritage of rodeoing. He and his brother Donald were among the first contestants in the Kansas High School Rodeo Association, and horses and roping marked a lifelong love that took him many exciting places across the United States. Merlin’s circle of friends was large, and his Christmas card list was long. He won numerous awards for his expertise in shooting, received his pilot’s license, and was part of many diverse communities in the beautiful Flint Hills he called home. But now his award for a long life is salvation, heaven now his home, and Christ, his Savior, is his constant companion: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26. Merlin is preceded in death by his father and mother, and baby sister, Marcena, his special bonus mother, Alice Berryman Hubbard, and his late wife, Donna Hubbard, who passed on to be with the Lord ahead of Merlin on November 18th, 2005. Merlin will be missed and remembered often by his surviving family, devoted brother, Donald; stepbrother, Bud; and stepsister, Deanna. His niece, Letitia Haynes; nephew, Brian Hubbard; niece, Alyssa Mathis, and husband Mark. His step-nieces, Leanne Branhman and Jill Rogers; and his step-nephews, Winston Corfield and Rick Rogers. Visitation will begin at 12 p.m. with funeral service to follow at 1 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2026, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. A private burial will follow in Dover, Kansas, for close family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Merlin’s name to the Kansas High School Rodeo Association or Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka, in care of the funeral home. Leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.

Merlin Hubbard

June 10, 1936 - April 4, 2026