Robert Mertens

Robert Henry Mertens, age 95, of Fonda, Iowa died Thursday, May 27, 2021 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Funeral Mass will take place Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda. Burial will be in the Mt. Zion Catholic Cemetery in Fonda. Visitation will take place Tuesday, June 1, 2021 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the CHURCH in Fonda. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Bob Mertens was born on the family farm near Defiance, Iowa on June 13, 1925. He was the only son of Henry J. Mertens and Katherine Kirschbaum. He attended country school and Defiance Catholic School receiving his first Communion on May 1, 1932. He graduated from St. Paul’s High School in 1942 at the age of sixteen. As a young man he worked on the family farm. During the summers of 1943 and 1944, he traveled to Montana to work on a wheat farm. In the late 1940’s, Bob spent time raising cattle on his ranch near Valentine, Nebraska. Bob was inducted into the United States Army on December 15, 1950. He proudly served in the 431st Engineer Company and was stationed at Camp McCoy Wisconsin where he received his basic training. While there, he worked as a driving instructor. Bob then attended eight weeks of Administrative School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. In April of 1952, he received orders to go to Korea. Bob sailed to Yokahama, Japan and on to Chuncheon, Korea to the 7th Division Headquarters near the 38th parallel. He served at the Officers Branch of the Adjutant Generals Office. He was responsible for all correspondence letters, endorsements and reports going out of the 7th Division. Bob was promoted to Corporal and was honorably discharged from Camp Carson in December 1952. He received the Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. After returning from Korea, Bob completed his college education at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he met the love of his life and future wife, Jeanette A. Wolken. Bob and Jeanette were united in marriage on June 25, 1955 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beatrice, Nebraska. Following marriage, he completed graduation with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration in June 1956. Together, they were blessed with three daughters: Jennifer, Victoria and Cynthia. In the fall of 1956, Bob and Jeanette settled on a farm east of Fonda. In 1960, they returned to the family farm at Defiance and remained there until 1978 when they returned to Fonda. Bob farmed his entire life and spent many years raising cattle. He retired from farming at the age of 89 in 2014. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Fonda American Legion. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of nearly 66 years, Jeanette Mertens of Fonda, Iowa; daughters: Jennifer (Richard) Hein of Fremont, Nebraska; Cynthia (Roger) Dirks of Fonda, Iowa; son-in-law, Jack Kohles of Defiance, Iowa; grandchildren: Jason Siemer, Stewart (Morgan) Anderson, Megan (Evan) Kerns, Robert Anderson, Cristina Kohles, Miranda Dirks; great grandchildren: Haley, Peyton and Anthony Siemer; Jonathan Anderson; Ava and Lucas Kerns; Mika Anderson; sister, Marie (Bill) Casey of Ida Grove, Iowa; extended family and friends. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Katherine Mertens; daughter, Victoria Kohles; sisters: Ellen (Ray) Rosmann; Virginia (Dr. Richard) Thomas; Kathryn (Frank) Casey; and granddaughter-in-law, Stacia Siemer.

Robert Mertens

June 13, 1925 - May 27, 2021