Henry “Hank” Mertz passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2017 at Sanford Hospital, Fargo following a long battle with CHF.

Hank was born May 14, 1942 to Henry and Marion (Schollmeyer) Mertz Jr. in Peoria, IL. They moved to Milwaukee, WI where he grew up and attended school. Hank graduated from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1960. In 1963 he enlisted in the US Navy and graduated from the Naval School Electronic Tech/Communication Class in January 1965 at Great Lakes, IL. Hank served aboard the USS Luce, a DLG7 for 3 years out of Mayport Beach, FL and was honorably discharged in 1969. He married Suzanne Marie Slawny on February 6, 1965. Hank was a loving father to his two sons, Eddie and Tom. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1972.

The couple moved to Minneapolis where Hank worked for the Square D Company as a sales engineer. In 1978 he was promoted to District Manager and moved to Fargo. In 1986 Hank was hired by Dakota Electric Supply of Fargo as their in-house engineer. He left to start MERCO, an electrical controls company serving the industrial market operating from 1990 to 2009 when he retired.

Hank and Sue celebrated 51 years of marriage in 2016. Through the years they were a team. There were ups and downs, good times and bad, but love and teamwork got them through it all together.

Hank was involved in Toast Masters and Minn-Dak Manufacturers Association, served on the Oxbow City Council and as president of Hickson Lutheran Church. He liked sports, excelled in bowling, was a so-so golfer and a great 3rd baseman. As a die-hard Green Bay Packer fan it was fitting that he left this earth while watching the Packers win the NFC North Division Title.

Hank is survived by his wife Sue; brother Barry (Terry) Mertz; daughter-in-law Tanya Alemu, (MN); brothers-in-law, Michael (Judy) Slawny, James (Donna) Slawny, Lewis (Michelle) Slawny; sisters-in-law, Esther (Doug) Pietrowski, Trudy (Steve) Dekker all of Wisconsin and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sons, Edward and Thomas.