Allen Mertz | 1947 - 2023
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Sep 4, 2023 | 3:46 PM / 337 views
Mass of Christian Burial for Allen Mertz, 76, of Mobridge will be at 10 AM, Friday, September 8, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mobridge. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will start at 6 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM Thursday at the church. Allen passed away Saturday, September 2, 2023, at his home in Mobridge.
Allen Dwayne Mertz was born February 3, 1947, to Adam and Rose (Aipperspach) Mertz in Hoven, SD. Allen grew up in Bowdle, SD until the age of 4 when the family moved to a farm south of Java. As a 4th grader they moved into town (Java) and he attended Java school until the 8th grade.
In high school, Allen worked for the Benny Stickelmeyer and Rhinhold Schneider farms. At 17, he moved to Mobridge to live with his sister Eleanor Gab and started working for Jensen’s Rock and Sand.
Allen and Jane Kosters were married December 2, 1967, at the St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Selby. To this union 3 children were born, Jina Marie (1969), Vicky Lynn (1972) and the big surprise Jason Allen (1984).
Allen was a jack of all trades and worked various jobs including, George Brothers, Dahme Construction, Mertz Truck & Auto, Walworth County, the Tree Service, was self-employed doing concrete and construction, ran an appliance business, bartended for Duane Gemar at the Moose Club and mowed for Davis Martin and the Oahe Hills Golf Course. Additionally, Allen and his brother Don worked for James Prasek cleaning feed lots, and was also a runner for Kesling Funeral Home and Northside Flowers. Northside Flowers was an adventure that Allen and his daughter Jina started over 30 years ago, despite the disapproval of Jane and Scott.
Allen enjoyed delivering flowers for the flower shop as well as morning coffee with the guys at the American Legion. After a long day of delivering, you could find Allen at beer o’clock with his brothers. In the Winter months Allen was either playing cards with his brothers and grandsons or cheering on the Miami Dolphins.
Allen enjoyed fishing and just spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Family meant a lot to Allen and he made sure to tell them all every day that he loved them to pieces. He also meant a lot to his family, and has 2 great grandsons named after him, Leyton Allen and Huxton Allen (however Jason Allen thinks they are named after him).
Allen was an amazing cook but had no recipes. He was known for his Tiger Meat (best in the country), Bean Soup and Beef Jerky. Allen was stubborn and refused to share the beef jerky recipe with anyone (despite his granddaughter McKenin’s numerous attempts) and so this is being laid to rest with him.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Jane of 55 years, daughters Jina (Scott) Ulmer, Vicky (Duck) Hauck, one son Jason (Brittanny) Mertz, Grandchildren Jett (Ashley) Ulmer, Tanner (Shantel Stambach) Ulmer, Trey Ulmer, McKenin Hauck, Maclyn (Austin) Westland, Piper and Lucy Mertz, Great Grandchildren Leyton and Bryn Ulmer, Huxton Westland, Tripp Ulmer and Trayden and Traeg Stambach.
Allen’s mother-in-law Irene Kosters, sister Ella Schneider and Brother Don (Marge) Mertz, Sisters-in-law Mary Mertz, Lynn Mertz, Jan Kosters, Marie (Rich) Mueller, Bev (Rod) Ruzsa and Gerlyn (Marvin) Vanderveldon and Brothers-in-law LaVerne “Kooner” (Paula) Kosters and Lyle (Treni) Kosters and lots of nieces and nephews.
Allen is proceeded in death by his parents Adam and Rose Mertz, father-in-law John Kosters, brothers Roland Mertz and Quintine Mertz, sisters Eleanor Gab and Ellina Barth and brothers-in-law Larry Kosters and Lester ”Mr. Bibbles” Kosters.