Mertz, Dr. Frank Charles Jr.

Dr. Frank Charles Mertz Jr. DVM was born on Feb. 3, 1920, near Cherokee, Kan., the son of Frank Charles and Ann Osthoff Mertz. Doc graduated from high school and junior college in Fort Scott, Kan. He was united in marriage to Faye Lucille Hall on June 1, 1940, in Fort Scott. Doc worked several years for the railroad. He served in the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during World War II. After the war they made their home in Fort Scott and Manhattan, Kan., where he worked for a brother and uncle. He attended Kansas State University and Veterinary School, graduating in 1952. They moved to North English in 1952. Doc was a 50-year practicing veterinarian in the North English area. He retired in 2002. Doc was a member of the North English United Methodist Church, North English Rotary (Charter Member), the Iowa County Conservation Board, the Mason Lodge and was a Shriner. He was a former North English City Council member and mayor. Doc was a past president of the Eastern Iowa Veterinarian Association and was instrumental in the development of both the Knoll Ridge Country Club and Iowa Lake. They moved to Knoxville in 2002. Faye preceded him in death in June 2005. Doc died on Jan. 28, 2010, at Comfort House in Pella.

He is survived by sons Frank Mertz III and wife Susan of Webster and John Mertz and wife Marla of Knoxville; grandsons John and James Mertz of Knoxville; stepdaughters Lori Myers and husband James of Sarrento, Fla., and Joni Snakenberg of South English; 2 step-great-grandchildren, Nile and Nola Myers; and a sister, Magdalen Stauffer of Valley Center, Kan. Doc was preceded in death by his parents, wife Faye, brothers George and Jim Mertz and sister Louise Pshide.

Memorial services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English with Pastor Robert J. DeYoung officiating. Burial with military rites will be in the North English Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m.

Messages and tributes may be left at under obituaries.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for English Valleys Citizens' Scholarship Foundation or Knoxville Humane Society.