Duane B. Merten, 78
Published 10:48 am Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Duane Merten, 78, of Adams, Minnesota, died Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa, after an episode of heart complications.
Merten
Duane was born Sept. 13, 1936, the son of Matt and Adeline (Landherr) Merten. Duane grew up on a farm around the Meyer, Iowa, area where he attended the Meyer grade school.
Duane married Louise Schneider on June 16, 1959, at St. Johns Catholic Church in Johnsburg, Minnesota, and to this union four children were born.
The couple moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where Duane worked at various stations at the John Deere plant. On weekends, Duane would help his father-in-law, Leo, with farming. In 1969, Duane and Louise took over the home farm when Leo and Martha retired to Adams. The couple farmed until 1989, when they built their present home in Adams.
Duane spent his retirement years close to his family and his hobbies included woodworking, fishing, trapping and many hours back on the farm helping out. Duane enjoyed traveling, including trips to Germany and Alaska. His favorite home hobby was his extensive collection of John Deere tractors.
He was preceded in death by his infant daughter Jane; and sister Virginia Merten.
Duane is survived by his wife Louise Merten, Adams, Minnesota; sons: James Merten (Jill Cyr and her children), Stacyville, Iowa, Ronald Merten, Stacyville, Iowa, Thomas Merten, Adams, Minnesota,; granddaughter Haley Merten, Stacyville, Iowa; siblings: Darlene and Jerome Gerber, Adams, Minnesota, Eugene and Joyce Merten, Adams, Minnesota, Mary Ann and Delphin Mueller, Austin, Minnesota, Herbert and Charlene Merten, Taopi, Minnesota, Ilene and Erving Berg, Rochester, Minnesota, Elaine and Ron Schemmel, Savage, Minnesota; many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Swaminatha Pothireddy officiating. Interment will be in the Johnsburg Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Adams Funeral Home on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. and at the funeral home on Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m.