John Mersy, age 90 of Mahnomen, Minnesota, died on Friday, August 15, 2008 at the Mahnomen Nursing Center.


John G. Mersy was born October 4, 1917 in Pennington, Minnesota the son of John and Margaret (Vaughn) Mersy. He was raised in Oklee, Minnesota with his parents and nine sisters. After graduating from high school John entered the United States Army in 1943. He was stationed in Africa and then went on to serve in the European Theater including Sicily, France and the Rhineland region. While in the service he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. After his discharge in 1945 he returned to Minnesota and began working for the Soo Line Railroad. He first worked in Bemidji, Minnesota and later became the agent at Bejou, Minnesota. It was here he meet Rose Marie Januszewski in Bejou who would become his wife of more than 62 years. They where married on April 22, 1946 in Bejou. While John was an agent for the Soo Line they lived in several communities in Minnesota including Bejou, Miltona, Dent, Winger and onto Mahnomen in the early 1970's. John retired from the railroad in the late 1970's and they have continued to make their home here since.


John was a member of the Bejou VFW where he was the former commander, Mahnomen American Legion member, and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and was also the former mayor of Mahnomen. He enjoyed fishing and gardening and was an avid Minnesota Twin fan.


John is survived by his wife, Rosemarie, Mahnomen; one daughter, Gail (Michael) Renna, Winger, MN; two sons, Gary (Stacey) of Lakeville, MN and Allen (Sue Waletski) Little Falls, MN; one sister, Gloria Wilkinson, Fergus Falls, MN; 6 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by 8 sisters.



Funeral services will be Tuesday, Aug. 19th at 10:30am in the St. Michaels Catholic Church, Mahnomen, MN. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00pm until 7:00pm with a family service beginning at 6:00pm and a KC Rosary following all in the Anderson ~ Mattson Funeral Home, Mahnomen.