Joseph F. Mergen

Joseph F. Mergen, age 86, of Glen Haven, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at home. He was one of six children born to Mike and Lena (Moris) Mergen on July 2, 1931. Joseph graduated from Bloomington High School in 1947. He was united in marriage to Verna Breuer on June 3, 1953. Together they raised eight children: Michelle (Wayne) Myhre, Marie (John) Fralick, Nancy (Dave) Lambert, Joe (Lorraine) Mergen, Jennifer (Brad) Hochhausen, Barry (Shanon) Mergen, Sally Mergen, Mitch (Jessica) Mergen. Joseph entered the United States Army in 1954 and served his country until his honorable discharge in 1956. He then returned to the Glen Haven area and farmed as well as worked construction as a carpenter at M&M Construction with Doug Morgan. Joseph retired from farming in 1996, but still continued carpentry work. He was a member of the Abraham Hickok Wetmore American Legion Post No. 148 of Bloomington, St. Charles Catholic Church, and its Knights of Columbus. Joseph enjoyed playing cards, fishing, tractor pulls, car races, cutting wood, and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Verna; their eight children: 27 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and two on the way; his brothers: Herb and Mike (Janet) Mergen and his sister, Bernadette (Robert) Parkins; sister-in-law, Barbara Mergen.

In addition to his parents, Joseph was preceded in death by his brothers: John William (Margaret "Mick"), Ambrose Mergen and his sister, Rosemary (Bud) Elskamp; sister-in-law, Betty Mergen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in Cassville with Father John Meinholz officiating. Burial with military honors will be at St. Mary's Settlement Cemetery, Cassville. Family and friends may call on Monday, July 31, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the church, where a 3:45 p.m. Knights of Columbus Rosary will be prayed. Friends may also call on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services. In lieu of plants and flowers a Joseph F. Mergen Memorial Fund has been established. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Cassville is assisting the family.