Richard Roessler Mertens

He was the son of Emmy Roessler Mertens and Jacob Mertens Jr. and was born in Bronxville, NY. He married the love of his life, Georgia McNamara, in 1954 while he was in the U.S. Navy and they were married 54 years until she passed away in 2009.

They had two children, Janice Mertens Dahl of St. Louis, and William Richard Mertens of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Richard was a graduate of the Hill School in Pottstown, PA, and the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Economics.

The couple moved to Colorado Springs in 1958 and were active throughout the community.

He was an Executive Vice President for the Colorado Springs National Bank, working in commercial banking and retiring in 1986.

He was a passionate community supporter, volunteering for the Humane Society, the YMCA, Memorial Hospital, the American Heart Association and Junior Achievement, along with many other organizations. He was the 3rd recipient of the JH Woodgate Award from the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region for his outstanding work in fundraising.

Mr. Mertens was a proud American and veteran and an active supporter of all members of the military.

He is survived by his children and spouses Janice and William Dahl and William and Janice Mertens; grandchildren Brenna Davis, Liesel Grauberger, Heather Mertens, Sarah Mertens; 5 great-grandchildren Luke Davis, Jordan Davis, Olivia Davis, Gabrial Davis and Jevon Davis; and two sisters, Barbara Reifsteck and Jacqueline Mertens.

He is preceded in death by his wife Georgia Mertens and his parents Emmy and Jacob Mertens.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 5th at Calvary Worship Center, 501 Castle Rd. A reception will follow at Garden of the Gods Club, 3320 Mesa Rd.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Richard Mertens’ favorite charities: Macular Degeneration Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive

Clarksburg, Maryland, 20871, http://www.ahaf.org/macular; YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, 207 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, http://ppymca.org; and Pikes Peak Hospice, 825 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3683, www.pikespeakhospice.org.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO