MERTZ, C. J. "Lefty" 1908-2002

MERTZ, GOELDNER, LAWRENCE, MCNABB, JACOBS, LYONS, STANGL, LEMONS

Posted By: Mary F (email)
Date: 12/16/2016 at 16:07:08

C. J. "Lefty" Mertz, 93, of Sigourney died April 20, 2002, at the Keokuk County Health Center, Sigourney, following a prolonged illness.

He was born April 21, 1908, in Clear Creek Township, Keokuk County, to Jacob Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Goeldner Mertz. He married Ruth Lawrence June 29, 1935, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. She preceded him in death in 1995. He graduated from Sigourney High School in 1927 and attended the Iowa Success Business School in Ottumwa. He had resided in Hayesville until moving to Sigourney in 1979. He played on the Hayesville Senior Professional baseball team. He was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church, Sigourney and served on the Fire Restoration Committee. He served as an officer for the Hayesville Savings Bank for 52 years and was co-owner of Mertz Insurance Agency. He was mayor of Hayesville for 40 years and spearheaded the effort to have the Hayesville School listed on the National Historic Register. He was a member of the Iowa Bankers Association, Keokuk County Peace Officers Association and was the Grand Marshal of the 1997 Fourth of July parade in Sigourney.

Surviving are two daughters, Marilyn Mertz and Carol McNabb; and two granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; brothers, Elmer and LeRoy; and sisters, Eloise Jacobs and Clarissia Lyons.

Funeral services were held April 23 at the First Presbyterian Church in Sigourney with the Rev. Kate Stangl and Rev. Danny Lemons officiating. Interment was in the Pleasant Grove cemetery in Sigourney.

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