Mertz, Harry James (1904-1976)

MERTZ, YAUS, FORRESTER, JACOBSON, ERMELS, CLERFF

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 7/10/2015 at 09:08:19

Daily Freeman Journal, Thursday, August 19, 1976

Harry J. Mertz, 72, longtime Webster City resident, died Wednesday evening at Mary Greeley Memorial hospital in Ames where he had been a patient for two and one-half weeks.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Foster Funeral home with burial in Graceland cemetery.

Harry James Mertz, son of James A. and Katie Mary Yaus Mertz, was born March 30, 1904 at Webster City. He was reared and educated in this community.

He was married April 8, 1929 to Helen Forrester, and the couple resided in Webster City where he was a tool and diemaker for the Knapp-Monarch Co. In 1931, the company moved to Bellville, Ill., and the family moved to that community.

In February, 1934 he moved to Newton where he served as chief engineer for the Automatic Washer, Co. In 1943, the family returned to Webster City where he served as chief engineer for the former Beam Mfg. Co. In 1949, he founded the Mertz Engineering Co. which he operated until his retirement Jan. 1, 1968.

He is survived by his wife; three sons, Bob Mertz, Jim Mertz, Perry, Iowa; and David Mertz, Las Cruces, N.M.; three grandsons, three grand-daughters and one step-grandson; one brother and three sisters, George A. Mertz, Webster City, Mrs. Leonard (Velva) Jacobson, Ames, Opal L. Mertz and Mrs. Barney (Gertrude) Ermels, both of Webster City, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Ralph Mertz, one brother who died in infancy, and one sister, Mrs. Frank (Ruth) Clerff.

He was a member of the First Congregational, United Church of Christ, and also the Elks lodge.