Obit: Mertens, John (1920 – 1958)

Contact: Linda Mertens
Email: mertens@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Mertens, Sailer, Gebert, Lehnertz, Krackenberger

----Source - Private Collection

John Mertens (19 Apr 1920 – 8 Apr 1958)

The Rev. Father Gerald Schuh officiated at funeral rites for John Mertens in St. Louis Catholic church here Saturday. The combined choirs under the direction of Sister M. Lambertine, sang for the 10:00 am requiem high mass. Members of the Holy Name Society, American Legion, and Medford Knights of Columbus formed an honor guard, and Pallbearers, nephews of the deceased were Henry Mertens, Dennis Mertens, Stephen Mertens of Dorchester, William and Phillip Mertens of Jefferson, Leon Sailer of Milwaukee, Earl Sailer of Wisconsin Rapids, and Raymond Sailer of Owen.

At committal rites in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery, members of the local Leach-Paulson American Legion post, had charge of according full military honors. A squad from the Abbotsford unit, Wisconsin National Guard, fired the final salute, and Ray Gebert and William Lehnertz played taps.

Mr. Mertens died April 8 of virus pneumonia complicated by an ailment he had suffered the past two years.

He was born in the town of Little Black April 19, 1920, and had resided in this community all his life except for service with the navy, and a year and a half during which he operated his trucking business from Missoula, Montana.

He is survived by his widow, the former Echo Krakenberger, eight children, his parents, and nine brothers and sisters. All brothers and sisters came for the funeral, as did many other relatives and friends from out of town