Robert Mertz

All who knew Robert Mertz considered him family. He invested his time in building wonderful friendships over the course of his life where he was revered as a man of great integrity. Bob loved his family and was no stranger to the hard work it took to provide for each and every one of them! His abundant family brought him the greatest joy and he would do anything to spend time with them. A lover of the great outdoors, Bob found his greatest pleasures in farming, camping, and fishing. Bob leaves behind a rich tapestry of memories shared with those he loved and he will be greatly missed by the many special people in his life.

Born during a time of distinctive cultural changes and a period of sustained economic prosperity, Robert Benjamin Mertz was welcomed home by Edward and Lillian (Kammerer) Mertz on January 17, 1925, in Fairfield Township. The Roaring Twenties held a significant time in our nation’s history with both the Jazz music and automotive industry booming. His birth brought much joy and happiness to the family home during an exciting era.

Growing up in DeKalb County on a farm, Bob learned the value of a hard day’s work at an early age. A stellar student, he was any teacher’s dream as he loved the opportunity to learn. Active in his youth, baseball provided him the outlet to release his childhood energy while also making lasting friendships. When he wasn’t tending to the family farm, he loved to capture reflections of nature by dabbling in photography. He graduated with the Class of 1943 from Ashley High School and set off for IUPU trade school in Fort Wayne. Soon after, he enrolled in the Naval Reserves where he proudly served for four years.

Not to be forgotten was the meeting of the woman of his dreams, Lucille Helen Butler. The two of them met while skating at a local roller rink when Bob was in the Walther League, a youth ministry popular in those times meant for sharing Scripture as well as hayrides, roller rinks, and community service projects. Smitten from that very day, they joined in marriage on June 9, 1951, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Kendallville. They were a perfect match in every sense of the word. Eager to start their family together, they raised five wonderful children together of which they were very proud.

Nothing was more important to Bob than his family. He and Lucille made the most of the time he was able to take off from his busy working years with the Kendallville Gas Company and the Newnam Foundry. They’d pack up the camper and grab their fishing poles and head south to Tennessee or north to Canada to spend time relaxing together. They’d often take the family dog, Lady that Bob was especially fond of as well. He encouraged his children every step of the way and taught them the value of an education. When the kids had grown, Bob kept up these traditions with his co-workers from Kraft Foods in Kendallville where he worked in the maintenance department for nearly twenty-five years. He and the Kraft crew would often head off to fish and camp together as well as create bonds to last a lifetime. Bob was easy going and a great friend to many over the years. His friends and family referred to him as, “MacGyver” as there wasn’t anything that he wasn’t willing to fix or a project he couldn’t troubleshoot for a friend or family member in need.

As much as he loved his role as a father, Bob made a fantastic grandfather! He enjoyed countless activities including Easter Egg hunts and sporting events of every kind just to get a glimpse of his special grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As the grandchildren matured, Bob took to his favorite pastimes of playing Euchre and Pinochle as well as attending the local East Noble High School basketball games. There simply wasn’t much that would keep Bob at home, he loved to be out enjoying himself in the company of others. Quite a storyteller, Bob loved to reminisce about his days at the Kraft company and would often leave his listeners in stitches as he shared the stories from years gone by. In the long winter doldrums, college basketball kept him interested as well as reading books from Billy Graham or Andy Andrews.

Bob was a good man through and through. He lived his life fully without ever taking for granted the goodness that was afforded him through his hard work and devout Christian beliefs. He was a God-fearing, beloved person to know and to love. His legacy will be the unconditional way he supported his family and his blessings will be treasured for generations to come.

Robert Benjamin Mertz, age 92, of Kendallville, passed away on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at Parkview Noble Hospital. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Lucille whom he shared nearly fifty-six years of marriage. He was also preceded by his brothers, Lloyd (Helen) Mertz and Lester Mertz; sister, Hilda Mertz; and sister-in-law, Bernice (Joseph) Burgi. Bob was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church. Survivors include his son, Craig (Cindy) Mertz of Kendallville; son, Roger (Dorothy) Mertz of Goshen; and son, Donald (Sandra) Mertz of Portage, Michigan; daughter, Janet (Kevin) Wiley of West Lafayette, Indiana; daughter, Jennifer (Kyle) Turner of Hudson and nine grandchildren: Jessica Mertz of Indianapolis; Jeremy Mertz of Indianapolis; Benjamin and Jessica Mertz of Chandler, Arizona; Wayne and Leslie Mertz of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Kara Mertz of Portage, Michigan; Joshua and Heather Mertz of Portage, Michigan; Elizabeth Wiley and Elaine Wiley both of Fishers, Indiana; and Alice Turner of Hudson as well as seven great-grandchildren; brother, Ralph (Dorothy “Dottie”) Mertz of Knoxville, Tennessee; brother-in-law, Floyd (Sharon) Butler of Kendallville. Visitation will be held Saturday, November 4, 2017, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville as well as an hour prior to the funeral service on Sunday at the church. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, November 5, 2017, at 1:30 PM at St. John Lutheran Church in Kendallville with Pastor Robert Shriner officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. John Lutheran Church or to Parkview Noble Hospice. Share your favorite memory or send a condolence online at hitefuneralhome.com. Arrangements entrusted to Hite Funeral Home of Kendallville.