Robert John “Mert” Mertens, 87, formerly of Fort Madison, IA, passed away on Friday, May 29, 2026 at Rolling Meadows Senior Living in Carroll, IA. Mert was born on July 14, 1938 in the home of his parents, Conrad & Kathryn Wilken Mertens in Fort Madison, IA. He was the fourth of five children and graduated from the first class at Aquinas High School in 1956.
On August 19, 1961, he married Yvonne Mary Krogmeier at St. Mary’s Church in Fort Madison, IA. They were married for 54 years. She preceded him in death on January 22, 2016. On November 26, 2016, he married Barbara Peacock Thomas at Sacred Heart Church in Fort Madison, IA. She preceded him in death on January 15, 2026.
In Mert’s early years, he was a newspaper carrier and worked at Troy Cleaners as a route salesman. When his children were born, he worked at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, IA as a guard. He went into carpentry work with his brother-in-law, Ronnie Holvey as R & R Construction, then on his own as Mertens Construction. When the Santa Fe/Burlington Northern Railroad moved his wife to Kansas City, he worked for Augustine Home Improvement, Inc. in Overland Park, KS as a carpenter for 13 years and there he retired. In retirement, they moved to Hudson, IA to watch his grandchildren’s activities and help with his son’s construction business. In 2012, he and Yvonne moved back to Fort Madison, IA.
Mert enjoyed working in his garage on building items out of wood and tinkering on his vehicles over the years. He owned timberland property in Hillsboro, IA with his brother, Jim, that he enjoyed taking care of that had belonged to their parents. Mert was an avid sports fan, especially the St. Louis Cardinals and the Iowa Hawkeyes. He and Yvonne square danced while in Kansas City.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Kay (Ken) Eischeid of Carroll, IA; a son, Douglas (Connie) Mertens of Hartwick, IA; three grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; a sister, Kathryn “Kay” (Ronnie) Holvey of Fort Madison, IA; a sister-in-law, Karen Wellman of Fort Madison, IA; brothers in law: Dean (Mary) Krogmeier of Innsbrook, MO & Wayne (Tami) Krogmeier of Plymouth, MI and several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by: his parents, two wives, his sisters, Dorothy & Virginia Mertens, a brother, Conrad James “Jim” Mertens and his brother-in-law, Mike Wellman.
A visitation will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory. A rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m. A memorial mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026 at Sacred Heart Church in Fort Madison with Rev. Gary Beckman officiating. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for Gentiva Hospice in Carroll, IA. Online condolences to the Mertens family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.
