Obit: Mertens, Lloyd (1935 - 1997)
Contact: Linda Mertens
Email: mertens@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Source - My copy

Lloyd Mertens (25 June 1935 - 25 Aug 1997)

Lloyd Carl Mertens, 62, San Antonio, Tex., died Aug. 25, 1997, at St. Joseph's Hospital Hospice Unit in Marshfield.

Funeral Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 28 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Dorchester, with the Rev. Al Ludwig and the Rev. Donald Schmitz presiding. Burial with full military rites by the Dorchester American Legion Leach-Paulson Post #517 will be at the Dorchester Memorial Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Col. (Ret.) Bernard McGee, Col. Guadelupe Vega, MSgt. (Ret.) Kenneth Taylor, MSgt. (Ret.) Phillip Miller, James Jantsch and Richard Billion. Honorary pallbearers were Ronald Johnson and Curt Netzer.

Lloyd Mertens was born June 25, 1935, in Milwaukee to Albert and Sylvia (Tennessen) Mertens. At age 9, he moved with his family to Dorchester where his father (and uncle) founded the Mertens Garage. While in high school, Lloyd was a member of the Wisconsin National Guard (32nd Division, Red Arrow). He graduated from Dorchester High School in 1954 and served the next four years in the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1962, he received a BA in History and Math from Wisconsin State College, Stevens Point.

Lloyd and the former Linda Johnson were married Feb. 9, 1963, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Dorchester, four days after Lloyd was commissioned an officer in the United States Air Force. He served in the Air Force as a Maintenance Officer, retiring Jan. 31, 1982. In subsequent years, he earned his teaching certificate and worked as a Maintenance Supervisor and Instructor with the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force.

Lloyd and Linda moved to Rochester, Minn., in 1994 where Lloyd taught in the Rochester School system. Last fall (1996) they moved to Sigonella, Sicily, where Lloyd taught 6th and 7th grade math at the U.S. Navy Base. December 1996 he was diagnosed with cancer and returned to San Antonio for treatment. After regaining his strength, Lloyd and Linda came to Wisconsin in July to visit family. While here, the cancer returned and Lloyd was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital on July 27 where he died a month later.

During his military service, Lloyd served overseas in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service, Guam, Spain and Panama. He hiked, camped, fished, built model airplanes, sailed, canoed and bicycled. He was a religious education teacher, leader of a Catholic Youth organization, coached youth soccer, and sailed with the Sea Scouts.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Linda Mertens of San Antonio, Tex.; mother, Sylvia Mertens of Medford; son, Gregory Mertens of San Diego, Cal.; daughters, Annette Mertens of Miami, Fla., and Jennifer Mertens of Lufkin, Tex.; brothers, Henry "Hank" (Pat) Mertens and Dennis "Denny" (Aggie) Mertens, both of Medford, and mother-in-law, Helen Johnson of Dorchester.

He was preceded in death by his father, Albert Mertens on Aug. 15, 1968.

Memorials may be given in Lloyd's name to St. Joseph's Hospital Hospice Care or the Lawton Research Center, both in Marshfield.