Joseph A. Merz

Joseph Anton Merz, 75, Fergus Falls, formerly of Underwood, MN, passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2014, at home with family and under the care of Lakeland Hospice.

Joe was born November 19, 1938, in Chicago of German immigrant parents Joseph and Kryszenzia (Centa) Heel Merz. His father was a master tailor and ran the family business in a neighborhood of fellow European immigrants. Joe often told stories of their neighbors and extended German family, although Joe kept only enough German to teach his children to swear. His early years were spent helping at the tailor shop, selling cotton candy on Lake Michigan, and taking care of his younger brother Charlie who called him Momma Joe. As a child he contracted polio, and credits a visit from Sister Kenny to his hospital with saving his life. Joe fondly remembered his adventures as an 11 year old at his aunt and uncle’s resort in northern Minnesota, where he first discovered his love of fishing.

Joe graduated from Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, WI. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO, where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Staggs. Awarded a National Defense Fellowship, he moved to Iowa City in 1962 to attend the University of Iowa, earning a Master’s degree in sociology and then a Master’s degree in urban & regional planning. He and Elizabeth were married on August 26, 1967, in Iowa City at the Unitarian Church.

They spent two years in Baltimore, where he worked as an advocate city planner. He was proud to take credit for the building of two new schools, several parks, a community center and a swimming pool in his neighborhood.

Joe was invited by a former professor to join him in teaching at a new graduate program of community and regional planning at North Dakota State University, which led Joe and Elizabeth to move to Fargo in 1970. Sara was born in 1972. Joe eventually quit teaching and, insisting to the end that he was never a hippie, grew his hair long. He drove taxi for a small family cab company in Moorhead carrying disabled adults to their sheltered workshop.

The family moved to a farm in Otter Tail County in 1977 after one of his students claimed that Otter Tail County was heaven on earth. They soon discovered it was true. Their son Bill was born at home on the farm in 1980.

Joe found himself drawn into community issues and often was approached by friends and neighbors asking advice related to local government. This did not always win him friends and at one point, there was a bounty on his pony tail, a story he always told with great pride.

Joe learned to milk cows by watching and helping patient neighbors, later buying his own herd. Joe loved the farm and Otter Tail County, and he loved farming. He often told stories of doing things the hard way, repeatedly, and was deeply appreciative of the farmers who taught him and laughed at and with him. While his fellow farmers would tell him stories about farming, he would relay stories of growing up in a big city. His brothers have confirmed that many of his stories were even true, along with some he didn’t tell.

After selling the cows, Joe became the first executive director of the West Central Minnesota Housing Partnership and served on the board of the MN Housing Partnership. In his retirement he worked at the local Pepsi warehouse. He was active in the Otter Tail County DFL. Joe and Elizabeth sold the farm in 1997 and built a house just north of Underwood. In 2006 they moved to Fergus Falls to The Kaddatz Artist Lofts.

Joe loved to garden, cook and eat, talk politics, and go fishing at Phelps Mill. He was very proud of his children, and deeply appreciative of the love of his life, his wife Elizabeth of 46 years. He often said she changed his life.

Joe is survived by his wife Elizabeth, daughter Sara of Raleigh, NC; son Bill (wife Katy Mitchell) of Minneapolis, MN, and was hoping to stay to meet his first grandchild in July; brothers Bill (wife Jackie) Merz of Sacramento, CA, and Charlie Merz of Grosse Pointe Park, MI; and many nieces and nephews, including Rick Holzer (wife Katie and son Jack) of Salt Lake City, UT; Steve Holzer (wife Stephanie) of St. Louis, MO; and Maggie Staggs of Kansas City, MO, who lived with Joe and family on their farm north of Underwood for a time.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Joe will be greatly missed. All are invited to celebrate his life at Olson Funeral Home on Saturday, May 24. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Beginning at 3:00 p.m. there will be an opportunity to tell your favorite story about Joe, or to listen.