Edmond Mertzenich

Edmond Mertzenich age 91 of Decorah, IA passed away on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, surrounded by his family.

A Requiem Solemn High Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Saint Joseph's Chapel (saintjosephsofharmony.org), 29968 County 22, Harmony, MN 55939, with Rev. Carlos Borja presiding.  Burial will be in the St. Benedict's Cemetery in Decorah after Mass, and it is open to all.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water St., in Decorah with a Rosary beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Born April 4, 1934, in Liège, Belgium, he was the son of Francois Guillaume Mertzenich and Marcelle Leblanc Mertzenich. As a child, in 1939, he met his future wife, Jeanne Emily Delwick. They were eventually married on July 13, 1957, in Liège. Edmond served in the Belgian army and was a paratrooper and spent time in the Congo in the 1950's. Edmond and Jeanne moved to Canada in 1959 and to the United States in 1965. Being native French speakers, Edmond and Jeanne taught themselves to read, write, and speak English fluently. Edmond spent most of his career in can manufacturing, retiring in 1996. Edmond and Jeanne then lived in Rockton, Illinois. After Jeanne's death in December 2020, Edmond spent another two years in Rockton and then moved to Aase Haugen Senior Services (aasehaugen.com) in Decorah in December 2022, where he thrived and lived life to the fullest. After having left the Faith in his younger years, Edmond returned to the Church during his last two years of life and was very well prepared for death and what follows.

Survivors include sons, Edmond Mertzenich of Roscoe, Illinois, Claude (Lauri) Mertzenich of Decorah, Iowa; and grandchildren, Douglas, Andrew, Aaron, Isaac, Maria, and Adam.

Edmond was preceded in death by his wife: Jeanne, his parents, brothers (Francis, Paul, André, José), sisters (Nicole and Jaqueline), daughter-in-law Nancy Mertzenich, and two grandchildren (Baby and Joel Henry Mertzenich).