Obituary: Mertens, John
Age 93
He was born August 18, 1922 in Uniontown, WA to John J. and Rose Mertens.
He was the first of eleven children.
He graduated from Gonzaga High School in 1940.
He enlisted in the Air Force in 1942, serving in Germany from 1951 to 1955, then in Alaska from 1959 to 1962.
He was extremely proud to have served as an Aircraft Commander.
It was in Alaska he met the love of his life, Betty Jean Keith and they were married in Anchorage, Alaska in 1961.
They then moved to Stewart AFB in New York and then Otis AFB in Cape Cod in MA where he retired as a major after serving 26 years in the Air Force.
They moved the family to Chico, CA until 1979 when they returned to Spokane, WA.
John is survived by his wife of 54 years, Betty; and their three children: Beth (BettyAnn) Mertens, Michael J.
(Teri) Mertens, and James E. Mertens; as well as his daughters, Patsy (Joe) Cadenhead and Nancy (Ron) Priddy and son, Gary (Linda) Mertens; 21 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; brothers, Ed Mertens and Richard (Ann) Mertens and his sister, Joanne Boyer.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of St. John Vianney Parish for 36 years.
He believed in God, family and country.
A Vigil will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church on Thursday, September 10th at 7 pm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 11th at 11 am at St. John Vianney Catholic Church with Father Joe Bell as celebrant.
Interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery (7200 N. Wall) at 1 pm on September 11th.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
We love you Dad, see you in heaven.
To view John’s online memorial, please visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.