Daniel Mertel

Daniel M. Mertel, age 85 on Thursday February 5th, 2009 at DeGraff Skilled Nursing Facility after a brief illness. Daniel was born in Schenectady in 1923. As a U.S. Army Veteran serving from 1942 to 1945 and saw duty in the Aleutian Islands. He received that Asiatic-Pacific Service medal. He also received the WWII Victory Medal, American Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. After military service, he worked in a Circus as a Roadie and traveled around the country. His stories about his exploits in the circus amazed his grandchildren. Daniel retired from Durez Plastics where he was a Lab Technician. He also worked at Ascension R.C. Church as a Custodian for 14 years. He was a former resident of the Carousel Park Apartments. Since June of 2008, he was a resident of the DeGraff Skilled Nursing Facility and became part of the DeGraff Family of residence who live there. He loved them all – especially the staff. Son of the late Charles and Ethel (nee Ostro) Mantz, Sr. Husband of the late Mabel E. (nee Coughlin) Mertel and brother of the late Charles Mantz, Jr. Loving father of Michael D. (Christine) Mertel of North Tonawanda, Proud grandfather of Jennifer (Thomas) Fendrick of Tonawanda, SSgt. Nicholas D. Mertel, U.S.M.C. of Twenty-nine Palms, CA. and Andrea (Peter) Chiccarine of Lancaster, PA. Great-grandfather of Thomas Fendrick III and Noah Fendrick. Dear brother of Dorothy (the late Harold) Squire of Utica. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass on Saturday February 7, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 64 Center Street, N. Tonawanda. Memorials may be made to DeGraff Skilled Nursing Facility Activities Fund. Arrangements by the Brunner Funeral Home (692-3841).