Thomas J. Merz

Thomas J. Merz Thomas J. Merz, 64, of New Ulm, Minn., died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Thomas James Merz was born on March 20, 1941, in Fond du Lac, Wis., the son of Arthur and Patricia Fitzgerald Merz. He attended Fond du Lac schools, graduating from L.P. Goodrich High School. On May 25, 1963, Tom was united in marriage to Joan Ziegler at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fond du Lac. The couple lived in Fond du Lac, where Tom worked for Mercury Marine for 30 years. Tom had a strong desire to see and serve the world, so he and his wife attended Rhema Bible School in Tulsa, Okla. Together they shared a ministry in Sioux City, Iowa, for two years before moving to New Ulm to serve the Victory in Jesus Fellowship. He participated in missionary trips to Peru in addition to serving in the local community.Survivors include his wife, Joan; a daughter, Michelle Brown and her husband John, of Eden, Wis.; his sons, Patrick Merz and his wife Carey of Fond du Lac, Wis., and Thomas Merz and his wife Sarah of Wausau, Wis.; eight grandchildren, Matthew and Erin Merz, David and Samantha Secord, Kaitlyn and Alexander Brown and Jack and Luke Merz; his brothers, Frederick Merz and his wife Janet of Colorado Springs, Colo., and John Merz and his wife Gaile of Fond du Lac, Wis.; a sister-in-law, Mary Thurk and her husband Don of Fond du Lac, Wis.; nieces; and nephews.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Secord.



"¢ Services: The funeral service will be at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, 2005, at the Victory in Jesus Fellowship, 25 S. Minnesota Street, New Ulm, Minn., with the Rev. Robert Rasmussen officiating. Services will also be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3, at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, Fond du Lac, with the Rev. Paul Pfeffer officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Fond du Lac. "¢ Visitation: Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, 2005, at the Victory in Jesus Fellowhip, New Ulm, Minn. Visitation in Fond du Lac will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3, at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home. Memorials are preferred to the Victory in Jesus Fellowship. Schmucker Funeral Service of New Ulm, Minn., is handling the arrangements.