Elo Mertz

Elo Mertz, 91, died Saturday, July 16, 2022, of Brenham, TX.

Elo was born on July 9, 1931 to parents Robert Lee and Edna Ullrich Mertz in the Shelby Community of Austin County. He was baptized on November 11, 1931 at St.Paul’s Lutheran Church in Warrenton by Pastor Jul Bosshard. He was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Shelby on September 11, 1944, also by Pastor Jul Bosshard. He married his wife, Vernell Noak, on October 28, 1951.

The visitation will be held from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 21, 2022 at Memorial Oaks Chapel with the family present from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 22, 2022 at Memorial Oaks Chapel with Pastor Phil Geleske officiating. A private burial will be at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham, TX.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brenham. He attended Schools at Shebly, Skull Creek and Fayetteville High School. He worked with his parents on the family farm while his two elder brothers served in the military during World War Two. He worked for Montgomery Ward in Bryan as a Sales Clerk and at a sporting goods department. In 1960 he joined Perry Bros., which was a variety store chain, for thirty years. He managed stores in La Grange, Bryan, and Brenham. In October 1991, he began working at Walmart in Brenham as a people greeter until retirement.

Survivors include his wife of seventy years, Vernell Mertz of Brenham, TX; sons, Welton Mertz of Brenham, TX, Glenn Mertz of Brenham, TX, Darrell Mertz of Brenham, TX; sons and daughters-in-law, Mark Mertz and wife Theresa of Somerville, TX, and Jimmie Mertz and wife Sue of League City, TX; daughters and sons-in-law, Karen Dittfurth and husband Steve of Bryan, TX, and Melissa Baginski and husband Michael of San Marcos, TX; daughter, Lorette Mertz of Brenham, TX; brothers, Reimund Mertz of Giddings, TX, and Claude Mertz of Giddings, TX; Nephews, Kenneth Hetzel and Gary Mertz; niece, Audrey Sternadle; thirteen grandchildren, and twenty-one great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, son, David Mertz, and sister and brother-in-law, Hilma Hetzel and husband Clinton.

Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main Street, Brenham, TX 77833.