Posted on: Lee Co. Ia Obituaries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/LeeObits/10219 Surname: MERTENS, SANDERS, MEIEROTTO, DENNING, POMBERG, MENKE ------------------------- Obituary Frank Mertens >From a Lee County, Iowa Newspaper Mertens Frank Mertens, a well known, highly respected and prominent farmer of near Cottonwood, passed away at Sacred Heart hospital at Fort Madison Thursday, September 23, 1926, at 10:30 AM, aged 62 years and 12 days. Mr. Mertens had been in the hospital about 10 days and underwent an operation tow days previous to his death. Mr. Mertens was the son of Chris and Christina Mertens and was born on a farm four miles west of St. Paul, Iowa, September 11, 1864, and has been a resident of Lee county all of his life. On January 20, 1890, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Sanders at St. James church, St. Paul. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Frank Mertens, four sons, John G. Mertens of near LaCrew; Christian F. Mertens of Cottonwood; Conrad P. Mertens of Fort Madison; Gerard J. Mertens of Cottonwood; two daughters, Cecelia Mertens of Ottumwa; Margaret Mertens at home. Also by one brother, Peter Mertens of near Houghton, and six sisters, Mrs. Chris Meierotto of Houghton; Mrs. John Denning and Mrs. Mary Pomberg, both of West Point; Mrs. John Meierotto of St. Paul; Mrs. Casper Meierotto and Mrs. Wm. Menke, both of near Houghton. One brother, Bernard, whose whereabouts is unknown. Also by three grandchildren. Mr. Mertens was a farmer by occupation, all of his life. For a number of years the family lived on a farm near West Point and moved from here to Cottonwood about sixteen years ago. He was a member of St. John’s church at Houghton. He was a man of honor and his integrity was never questioned by his fellowmen. He was an ideal husband and father and a good neighbor. Funeral services were held at St. John’s church at Houghton Monday morning at 10 o’clock. Solemn requiem mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Adam as celebrant, Rev. Father B. Jacobsmeier of Riverside as a deacon, and Rev. Father Leo Roling of Fort Madison as sub-deacon. Many relatives and friends attended the last rites. The St. John Men’s Society of which the deceased was a member, attended in a body. The remains were interred in the family burial lot in St. John’s cemetery. Six nephews acted as pall bears, C. J. Meierotto, George Denning, Henry Pomberg, Henry Mertens, John Meierotto and John G. Sanders Jr. Those attending from a distance were: Rev. B. Jacobsmeier of Riverside, Rev. Leo Roling of Fort Madison, Conrad Mertens and family of Fort Madison, Cecelia Mertens of Ottumwa, Mr. And Mrs. S. A. Sanders of Keokuk, Miss Mary Sanders of Riverside, Mr. And Mrs. George Wilken of Fort Madison, Theo. Mertens of St. Louis, MO, Mr. And Mrs. Will Millmeyer of Fort Madison.