Mertka, Carl Eugene 'Buz'

Carl Eugene “Buz” Mertka, 73, of Marion, passed away in his home following a lingering illness. A Celebration of Life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 6, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion by the Rev. Barb Krueger. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the funeral home on Saturday. Following services, Carl will be laid to rest at Mount Clark Cemetery in Central City.

Survivors include two sisters, Marlene Carpenter of Anamosa and Charlotte Dunlap of South Amana; and a sister-in-law, Sharon Mertka of Mechanicsville. Carl had numerous nieces and nephews (who affectionately called him “Uncle Buzzy”) whom he loved as if they were his own children.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Louis “Bud” Mertka.

Carl was born Nov. 11, 1939, the son of Louis and Maxine (Hughes) Mertka in Cedar Rapids. He and his sister, Marlene, owned and operated Car-Mar Beauty Salons in Central City and Marion for many years. He attended and supported Morley United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be addressed to the family and will be donated to a charity in Carl's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Carl at under obituaries.

Published July 4, 2013, in The Gazette