Obituary of George J. Mertz Sr.

George Joseph Mertz, 98, of Bainbridge, NY, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 1, 2024. George was born on February 10, 1926, in Bainbridge, NY, to Joseph and Ellen (Jerome) Mertz. He attended Bainbridge-Guilford High School in Bainbridge, NY, and a member of the class of 1945, but like many Americans of the Greatest Generation, he left school, joined the Army, and served our country in WWII. Governor George Pataki would later recognize the veterans who left high school to serve our country and award him his high school diploma. Though he rarely spoke of his service in the Army, he served in the 86th Infantry “Blackhawk” Division, being the only regiment to serve in both the European and Pacific theaters, serving our country in both Germany and the Philippines. The 86th Infantry Division is recognized by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for its part in the Allied liberation of the Nazi forced-labor camp at Attendorn. Among the medals received, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Marksman, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, and the Bronze Star. Upon returning home from the Army, George met the love of his life, Madeline Brown. Soon, they would become married and eventually settle down in Bainbridge, NY. Together, they would raise nine children and become grandparents to eighteen grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and counting. George would begin a 42-year career on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, where he rose to the position of Yardmaster, eventually retiring in 1986. George grew up on a dairy farm on Mertz Road in West Bainbridge and loved his time hunting and walking that land; this was something he would share with his sons for his lifetime. He was an avid volunteer for many organizations and causes, including the Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Department, St. John’s the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 60+ Meals on Wheels. But his passion for volunteering was to always remain anonymous and to live his life doing good deeds. His love of country music and his family went hand in hand, always believing that we live for God, Family and Country. George was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus. George is survived by the love of his life of nearly 75 years of marriage, Madeline Brown Mertz; eight children: George (Carmella) Mertz and their three sons Jason, Aaron (Hailey) and Kyle (Sara); Philip Mertz and his son Alex (Alison); Karen (Herbert) Volkert and their daughters Amanda, Kristina, Tiffany (Justin) and Nicole; Lawrence (Karen) Mertz and their sons Patrick (Emily) and Michael; Dr. Melita Mertz; Lisa (Jeffrey) Horton (predeceased) and their children Joshua, Andrew, Brittany (Lee) Menapace and Matthew; John (Annalisa) Mertz and their children Giuliana and Giancarlo; Denise (Stephen) Terrano; and David Mertz and his children Ellie and Mitchell. George is also survived by his sisters Ellen Hogan and Augusta (Gussie) Shifflett and many many nieces and nephews. George is predeceased by his beautiful daughter Lisa, granddaughter Jessica Lynne, daughter-in-law Maria, his parents Joseph and Ellen (Jerome) Mertz, brothers Joseph, Jerome, Frederick, Alfred, and sisters Loretta Frank, Veronica Shupperd, and Theresa Horton. Visitation hours will be held for relatives, friends, and guests on Friday, June 14, 2024, at C.H. Landers Funeral Home, Sidney, NY, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be celebrated with a Mass of Christian burial to be held at St. John’s the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Bainbridge, New York, on June 15, 2024, at 11 a.m., followed by a military honors burial at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Bainbridge, NY. Flowers provided by Darlene’s Flower World 607-967-3773. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the maintenance of The Blessed Mother at St. John's the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Bainbridge, NY (34 S Main St, Bainbridge, NY 13733) Share condolences and memories with the family online at www.landersfh.com.