Memorials › Clarence H. Mertens

Clarence H. Mertens

23 Jan 1938 – 22 Sep 2015

Birth23 Jan 1938
Death22 Sep 2015
Added bystacey bass on 09 Feb 2025
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232792364

Bio

Clarence H. Mertens Sr., 77, of Crooks, SD died Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at Select Specialty Hospital in Sioux Falls. Family present visitation will be from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm with a Prayer Service beginning at 3:00 pm on Sunday, September 27 at Miller Funeral Home-Downtown, 507 S. Main Ave. Clarence Henry Mertens, son of Hugo and Alice (Kugler) Mertens, was born January 23, 1938 at the family farm near Ogema, MN. Clarence was the 11th of 15 children. He attended school until the third grade and stayed at home to help do chores and farming with the family. When he was about 18 years old his father died. A year later he moved his mother out to Washington State. He worked a few jobs in Washington until his mother wished to move back home. He returned and was united in marriage with Margie Brinkman, and to this union they were blessed with three children, Jennifer, CJ, and Becky. They returned to Washington for several years. He worked a few general labor jobs. They returned to Sioux Falls in 1980. He began working for Ace Neon Sign. He was united in marriage with Linda (Plowe) Havelaar on November 26, 1982, at a ceremony in a friend's home and surrounded by Clarence and Linda's children. Over the years he worked with First Rate Excavating, Mueller Palates, Willow Run Golf Course, and several handyman jobs that came along. Clarence was the "Jack of All Trades, and Master of None" and he enjoyed dreaming up projects and building it with whatever he could come up with to build it. Like a handyman artist. He love to hunt and fish with his family. He enjoyed the outdoors whether it was for work or play. Clarence was a very proud grandfather and took every opportunity to babysit them. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Linda; their children, C.J. (Stacy) Mertens, Edgerton, MN, Kimberley Farias, Houston, TX, Becky Pollreisz, Bridgewater, SD, Jim Havelaar, Joe Havelaar, Jeremy (Erin) Havelaar, all of Sioux Falls, SD; 16 grandchildren; one great grandchild; siblings, Hugo (Carol) Mertens, Valley Springs, SD, Ronnie Mertens, Veblen, SD, Leroy Mertens, Othello, WA, Lillian (George) Maruska, Detriot Lakes, MN, Evelyn (Bill) Buhl, Stillwater, MN, Alice Pye, Franklin, TN, Mary Ann Tieken, Ogema, MN; sister-in-law, Bea Mertens, Ogema, MN, Marge Mertens, WA; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Clarence was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Jennifer Rebecca Mertens; his parents; his siblings, Tuny Mertens, Ray Mertens, Ethelbert Huska, Ed Mertens, Margaret "Tootie" Pollock, Augie Mertens, and Bernadine Mertens; father and mother-in-law, Phil and Rose Plowe; brother-in-laws, Lyle Plowe, Bill Pye, and Leo Tieken.

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