Mary J. Mergen

BLOOMINGTON – Mary J. Mergen, age 92, of Bloomington, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2018, at Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien. She was born on January 11, 1926, in Prairie du Chien, the daughter of Joseph and Rose (Kavon) Lechnir. Mary was raised on a farm on Highway 27 near Eastman, and in 1944, graduated from Prairie du Chien High School. She completed a nursing assistant program and worked at Prairie du Chien General Hospital. On November 14, 1950, Mary was united in marriage to Alfred L. "Fritz" Mergen at St. John's Catholic Church in Prairie du Chien. Together they farmed in the Mount Hope and Patch Grove Township area for over 50 years, retiring to Bloomington in 1984. She was a devoted member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bloomington and its Catholic Daughters of America. Mary enjoyed quilting, baking, especially pies, and spending time with family. She was very giving of her time and talents.
Survivors include her children: Kathleen (Gary) Skaife; Elizabeth "Betsy" Mergen; Joe (Sandy) Mergen; Luci Mergen Johnson; Bill (Susan) Mergen; 9 grandchildren: Jason (Jenn) and Brian (Emily) Skaife; Philip (Rachel) Mergen; Alison (Tim) Schuldes; Paul Mergen, DC; Andrew, Peter (Sara), and Michael Johnson; Grace Elizabeth Mergen; 6 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Bernice Mergen; many nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Fritz, two brothers, Bernard (Doreen) and John (Anita) Lechnir; many members of the Stephen and Frances (Von der Heide) Mergen family.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bloomington with Father John Meinholz officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bloomington. Family and friends may call on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the church, where an 8:45 a.m. rosary will be prayed. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Bloomington is serving the family.