Mert was born and raised on a farm in Fair Haven, Minnesota. As a young child, his family learned of his innate mechanical gift. He served in the Army during WWII. He married Violet E. Sande on June 21, 1947 and to this union four children were born. Mert was an appliance serviceman and worked for Kjellberg’s in Monticello for nearly ten years before moving to Buffalo to own and operate The Star Superette grocery store for nearly a decade then ran a Montgomery Ward catalog agency. He retired in his early fifties and moved to Brooksville, Florida. He enjoyed his family, friends, dancing, traveling, playing cards, fishing the lakes of Minnesota and golfing. He is survived by his devoted loving wife, Vi (a/k/a Sandy), his children; Dennis, Kathy, Bruce and Cindy, nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Lenora Capes; sisters Marjorie and Virginia and brothers Bud and Eldon.
