David Fernleigh Mertz was born Feb. 24, 1937 in the home where his family resided on Kellogg Rd. near Tontogany, OH and passed on to Heaven on Jan. 28, 2023 in his home in Tipp City, OH.
He graduated from the Washington Twp. School in Tontogany and then from BGSU with a degree in journalism. He worked for the BG Sentinel Tribune, served 2 years in the Army at Fort Benning, GA, then worked for the Tiffin Advertiser Tribune. He spent the rest of his career as a copy editor with the Toledo Blade for 33 years.
He was a man of strong faith, attending the Tontogany Presbyterian Church his young life. There he met his wife, Donna Simmers, when her family moved to the area. They married June 7, 1969, bought his family home when his father passed, updated and remodeled “the farm” and raised 3 children; Joshua (Sarah Turner), Rebecca (Scott) Reckers, and Peter (Monique Judy). Adding to the family are grandchildren Ella and Turner Mertz and Sawyer, Maggie, Lyndsey, and Scott Jr. Reckers and Taylor (Justin) Ferrell.
He had a terrific tenor voice which gave glory in church choirs. In addition to singing he also served in the churches they attended – as council member in ‘Togany and treasurer at Plain Church. He was on the Otsego Board of Education for 12 years and a strong supporter of Otsego Music Boosters, serving as treasurer for many years. He acted in many amateur theater productions, was an avid reader, collected books and music, and always treasured the family history and each family member.
In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren he is survived by his twin sister, Betty Buehrer, and many nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 17050 Middleton Pike, on March 4 at 2PM with visitation to follow until 4.
