Floyd J. Mertens

STAPLES -- Floyd John Mertens, 77, Staples, died Wednesday, March 21, 2001, at Greater Staples Hospital.

He was born May 25, 1923, in Staples to Carl and Lucy (Tils) Mertens. He attended Sacred Heart School. He entered the Army in 1944 and was a staff sergeant in Germany during World War II. He married Agnes Hanson on Dec. 29, 1945. He farmed near Leader after the war and was a part-time assessor for Bryon Township. In 1956, they moved to Staples where he worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad, as well as for the city of Staples as a policeman. He was a bus driver and security guard for the public school system. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and a lifetime member of the VFW.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Belva Vogel, Staples; two sons, Laird Mertens, Roseau, and Warren Mertens, Motley; eight grandchildren; three brothers, David Mertens, Clarence Mertens and Roy Mertens, all of Staples; and two sisters, Mary Larson, Staples, and Iva Grossman, Hibbing.

Four brothers, Joe, William, Lloyd and Richard, died earlier.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples with Father Lauren Germann officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Hill Cemetery.

Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Brenny Funeral Home in Staples with parish prayers at 7 p.m.