Gerald "Chip" Wayne Mertens Obituary (1946

Mr. Gerald "Chip" Wayne Mertens, age 70, of Charlestown, Indiana entered this life on July 30, 1946 in Highland Park, Michigan. He was the loving son of the late Gerald E. and Lorraine Welch Mertens. Chip was inducted into the United States Army on June 15, 1966 in Chicago, Illinois and served during Vietnam where he was exposed to Agent Orange. He rose to the rate of Specialist 5 serving in the regular army. He was honorably discharged on May 9, 1971 from Fort Rucker, Alabama receiving the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Commendation Medal with 60 Device, Air Medal with V Device, One Overseas Bar, Air Medal 1st-6th with Oak Leaf Cluster, Aircraft Crewman Badge, Air Medal 7th-9th with Oak Leaf Cluster and Expert M-14 and M-16. He resided his adult life in Clark County, Indiana. Chip owned and operated the Goodyear Tire Store in Jeffersonville for 12 years and operated Capt. Chip's Charters on Lake Cumberland and the Ohio River; he was a certified Coast Guard Captain as well. For the past 23 year he has owned and operated Chip's Place on 10th Street in Jeffersonville, a certified auto repair shop. Chip was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints in Charlestown. Chip loved fishing; talking with family and friends, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Gerald "Chip" Mertens died on Friday, September 23, 2016, at 5:20 p.m. in Clarksville, Indiana surrounded by his loving family. Click Here for Funeral Service or Tribute Video A LOVING FAMILY Gerald "Chip" Mertens will be missed by his loving wife of 21 years, Sandra L. Spry Mertens of Charlestown, Indiana; their four children, CW 4 Shawn Mertens and his wife, Teresa of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Kimberly Mertens of Savanna, Georgia, Patrick Mertens and his wife, Autumn of Charlestown, Indiana, Derek Lakeman and his wife, Ronda of Jeffersonville, Indiana; his grandchildren, Joy, Kimberly, Shawn Patrick, Christian, Conner and Ira; his great grandchildren, Lola & Cecilia; his sister, Cherie Shank and her husband, Dwight of Grand Junction, Colorado; his brother in law, Tom Spry of Madison, Indiana; his niece, Kelly and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald E. and Lorraine Welch Mertens, his nephew, Jeff Shank; his father in law and mother in law, Ira Spry and Mary Nadine Higgins Spry Pruitt. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, September 27, 2016, at 10:30 am, by Bishop Bob Bethany at the Newcomer Funeral Home Southern Indiana Chapel, 3309 Ballard Lane New Albany, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Brooksburg Cemetery in Brooksburg, Indiana. VISITATION Friends may call Monday from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the Newcomer Funeral Home Southern Indiana Chapel, 3309 Ballard Lane in New Albany, Indiana. FULL MILITARY HONORS Full military honors will be conducted at the graveside at the Brooksburg Cemetery by the United States Army Ceremonial Unit and Jefferson Post 9 of the American Legion. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to Donor's Favorite Charity. Cards are available at the funeral homes. Online condolences at, www.morgan-nay.com; Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana serving the family. Secure">http://www.paysimple.com/security.html">Secure Payments To send a flower arrangement in memory of Gerald "Chip" Wayne Mertens, please click here to visit our sympathy store.