Martha Belle Merten

Martha Belle Merten of Waukesha was welcomed into Heaven on Sunday, July 9, 2017 at Waukesha Memorial Hospital at the age of 88. She was born on November 2, 1928 the daughter of Lawrence and Marie (nee Hutchison) Duncan and grew up on a dairy farm in Ohio. On July 22, 1950, she married William Merten in the town of Vernon; he preceded her in death on July 4, 2009. Martha was a kindergarten teacher at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church for many years and was an active member of her church, Grace Ev. Lutheran Church. She enjoyed and was blessed to travel, often staying in Elder Hostels and remembered fondly her mission work experience in Siberia she shared with her husband William. Martha was an excellent oil painter and found joy in playing the ukulele at Avalon Square.

She will be sadly missed by her children, Pamela (Earl) Heidtke of New Ulm, MN, Rev. Philip (Pamela) Merten of Wauwatosa, Stephen (Dianne) Merten of Loretto, MN, Chris (Celeste) Merten of Cape Coral, FL and Rev. Brent (Jane) Merten of Colorado Springs, CO. She was the proud grandmother of Sarah, Kristina, Emily, Laura, Kyle, Benjamin, Molly, Emily, Matthew and Anna and great-grandmother of 15. She is further survived by her sister Mary Duncan of Colorado along with other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband William, she was preceded in death by her parents and great-grandson Riley.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2017 from 1:00PM until the time of the 3:00PM memorial service at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church, 700 Beechwood Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186. Rev. Jason C. Hacker will preside. Graveside services will take place, Friday, July 14th at 10:00AM at Prairie Home Cemetery. Please meet at the cemetery. Memorials in Martha’s name are appreciated to Grace Ev. Lutheran Church.

Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, Crematory and Preplanning Services is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.randledable.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.