Lloyd Mertes

Lloyd John Mertes, the son of John and Emma (Langenfeld) Mertes, was born December 1, 1925 in Guthrie County, IA and died May 27, 2012 at the Oakland Manor Nursing Home in Oakland, at the age of 86 years, 5 months, and 26 days.

Lloyd went to school through the eighth grade and then helped farm and run a small job shop on the farm. In December of 1948, he was drafted into the United States Army. While on furlough, Lloyd asked Alice Byrum to marry him. On July 20, 1949 they were married at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA while traveling back to Fort Dix, NJ. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Lloyd and Alice moved to the family farm near Adair. In November of 1952, they bought the welding shop in Carson. After moving to Carson, three children were born: Diane, Allen, and Mark. Lloyd lived in Carson until the time of his death.

Lloyd belonged to the Carson Fire Department for thirty-eight years, where he served three years as the assistant chief and nine years as chief. He was in the Iowa Blacksmith and Welders Association since 1954, serving as the treasurer for one year. In 1968, he was the state president and then was chosen as Blacksmith of the Year in 1969. He was a member of the Carson Masonic Lodge and the Tangier Shrine in Omaha, and had helped with the Shrine Circus. He served on the Carson City Council for six years and was on the Carson Rodeo Board for twenty years, where he spent countless hours working on and around the arena.

Lloyd and Alice started camping in 1964 and traveled throughout the U.S. and Southern Canada Provinces. In their later years, they enjoyed spending their winters in Texas. He enjoyed fishing in Canada and Okoboji and had many good times with his friends.

Lloyd is preceded in death by his son Allen; his parents; his brothers Fred and Ed Mertes; his sister Evelyn Beaudine; and his special canine friend Buffy.

He is survived by his wife Alice of Carson; his children Diane Peterson and husband Perry of Griswold and Mark Mertes and wife Amy of Carson; his grandchildren, Amy Peterson of Portland, OR and Chad Peterson of Iowa City, IA; his sister Helen Abbott of Stewartsville, MN; and his sisters-in-law Phyllis Schwab and Catherine Koob and husband Virgil. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2012at 10:30 AM at the Carson United Methodist Church. An open visitation will be held at the Carson Community Building in Carson starting at noon on Wednesday. The family will be present to receive friends from 4:30-7:00 at the Carson Community Building. Interment will be at the Carson Cemetery. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.