Obit: Mertens, Bernard “Barney” George (1927 - 2016)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Mertens, Heimann, Kapfer, Nitz, Sladich, Murphy, Noah, Wojt, Westberg, Slowiak, Huzaga, Weix, Nye, Koenig, Techmeier

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 11/23/2016

Mertens, Bernard “Barney” George (18 February 1927 – 14 November 2016) With Flag

Bernard “Barney” George Mertens of Thorp died Nov. 14, 2016. He was born Feb. 18, 1927, in Thorp. The son of the late Oscar and Catherine (Heimann) Mertens. Bernard enlisted in the Army April 17, 1945. After being discharged from the Army, he returned to Thorp where he held various jobs until he bought a farm on Tieman Ave. He married Maryann Kapfer Sept. 4, 1954.

Bernard framed all his life. He was an active member of the Thorp American Legion and was involved both on the Clark County Board and served in the Town of Butler. He enjoyed spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, camping, cutting firewood, gardening, picking wild mushrooms, and feeding the birds.

He is survived by his wife Maryann and children: Bernardine (Wayne) Nitz of Neenah, Barbara (William) Sladich of Greenwood, Susan (Dennis) Murphy of Thorp, Tom (Theresa) Mertens of Lake Hallie, Paul (Ann) Mertens of Thorp, Louise (Tom) Noah of Thorp, Richard (Lisa) Mertens of Little Chute, Ann Wojt of Cadott, and James (Kimberly) Mertens of Thorp; 22 grandchildren; 216 great-grandchildren with 2 more arriving early 2017; one brother, Robert (Rosalie) Mertens of Thorp; and two sisters: Theresa Westberg of Eau Claire and Margaret Slowiak of Stanley.

Bernard is preceded in death by his parents, son Bernard (Binky), brothers: Hugo, Francis, and Father Michael Mertens, and sisters: Catherine Huzaga, Marie Weix, Marcella Nye, Helen Koenig, Ruth Weix, and Delores Techmeier.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016. Inurnment will follow in St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery with graveside military rites conducted by the Thorp American Legion Post #118. Visitation will be held at the church Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a rosary recited at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will also be held Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service, also at the church.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer Unit at the Clark County Rehabilitation & Living Center, W4266 County Road X, Owen WI 54460.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.