Memorials › Christopher Bernard "Chris" Mertens

Christopher Bernard "Chris" Mertens

18 Dec 1896 – 26 Mar 1976

Birth18 Dec 1896
Death26 Mar 1976
CemeterySacred Heart Cemetery
Lawrence , Nuckolls County , Nebraska , USA
Added byMarilyn Sanner Keim on 15 Aug 2009
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40557041

Bio

Chris Mertens, 79, a retired Lawrence grocer, died Friday, March 26, at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island. He is survived by two sons, Eugene of Hastings and Ray of Sutton; two daughters, Mrs. Marian Souchek of Deweese and Mrs. Bernadine Karmazin of Nelson; 19 grandchildren; one sister, Anna Kathman of Willowdale, Kansas. Services were Monday, March 29, 1976, in Sacred Heart Church, Lawrence, with burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. The Rev. John Kelly officiated. Military rites were at the graveside. A scripture service was held Sunday night at Sacred Heart Church. The Merten-Butler Funeral Home of Blue Hill was in charge. The Nelson Gazette (Nelson, NE), April 1, 1976; pg. 10 ====== Chris Bernard Mertens, son of Henry Mertens and Anna (Musenbrock) Mertens was born in St. Louis, Mo., on December 18, 1896 and passed away on March 26, 1976 at the age of 79. Father John Kelly and Father Edwin Stander concelebrated the Mass of the Resurrection on Monday morning March 29th at 10:00 a.m. Burial was in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Members of World War I Barracks #2275, and Kent Kailey Post #45 provided the honor guard and firing squad for the burial services. Gene Hoelting and Barb Reiman played Taps. Survivors include two sons, Eugene of Hastings, Raymond of Sutton, two daughters, Bernadine Karmazin of Nelson and Marian Souchek of Deweese, 19 grandchildren, one great-grandson, and a sister Anna Kathman of Willowdale, Kansas. At the age of 12, after his fathers death, Chris moved to Cunningham, Kansas with his mother and other family members. He attended school at St. Leo. Later the family moved to a farm near Meade, Kansas. He entered the army at the age of 21 and was honorably discharged on Jan. 22, 1919. He then came to Lawrence, Nebr. He was united in marriage on September 22, 1925 to Lena Menke of St. Stephens parish. To this union were born four children, Eugene, Bernadine, Marian and Raymond. He, with his brother Henry P. Mertens operated a meat market and later a grocery business. For a number of years they were buyers of cream and eggs for Farmers Union. After his brothers death in 1953, he continued to operated the business with the help of his wife and Mrs. Henry Mertens. He was forced to retire after suffering two heart attacks, but continued to live in Lawrence, where his main interests were his church, and large yard and vegetable garden. After the death of his wife in 1975, he made his home at the Nebr. Veteran's Home where he was truly treated as a family member, until his death on March 26th. He was a loving husband and father, and a dear friend to all who knew him. He was a member of Sacred Heart Parish for over 50 years a member of World War 1 Barracks #2275, a V.F.W. member, and also a member of Kent-Kailey Post #45 of the Lawrence American Legion. Relatives and friends attending the funeral services from a distance were from Dubuque, Iowa, Kingman, Bellmont, Willowdale, Waterloo, Cunningham and Rago Kansas, Lincoln, Cozad, Sutton, Superior, Hastings, Kearney, Nelson and Deweese Nebraska. The Lawrence Locomotive (Lawrence, NE), Thursday, April 15, 1976; pg. 1

Photos

Family

Parents

Spouse

Siblings

Children

Export GEDCOM

This person only · Entire connected family