Joseph A. Mertes, 86
St. Joseph
Sept. 30, 1938-Nov. 14, 2024
Joseph A. Mertes, 86, of St. Joseph, died Nov. 14, 2024 at the St. Cloud Hospital.
His funeral will be held Saturday, Nov. 23 at St. James Catholic Church in Jacobs Prairie. The Rev. Julius Beckermann, OSB, officiated. Burial with military honors was in the parish cemetery.
Mertes was born Sept. 13, 1938 in St. Joseph to the late Theresa (Bonavero) and Herbert Mertes. He proudly served in the U.S. Army. He married Doris Theisen and they were blessed with a son, Mario. Mertes met Carol Hanel on a trip to Germany, and they married on March 23, 1987. They farmed near St. Joseph and Mertes also worked at the Cold Spring Granite Sheds for more than 30 years. He was a member of St. James Parish and American Legion Post 328, St. Joseph.
Mertes loved farming and collecting Oliver tractors. He also enjoyed dancing, listening to polka music and KASM and he was proud of his 1959 Ford Galaxy Skyliner Hardtop Convertible. Mertes treasured his morning coffee with the guys at the St. Joseph McDonald’s. Above all, he treasured time with loved ones.
Survivors include the following: his son Mario Mertes of St. Cloud; stepson Bill Robertson (Theresa Janssen) of St. Joseph; brothers: Richard (Sherrie) of Wisconsin and Robert (Theresa) of Avon; niece and nephews: Ann, John, Mike, Ryan and Aaron; daughters of his heart, Tracey and Katie; and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol in 2016; and brother, Alfred.
A special thank you to Mertes’ amazing sidekicks, Doug Fuchs and Mike Mertes, for helping keep the tractors rolling and crops growing and flowing.
