Henry "Hank" Robert Mersch

Mr. Mersch was born on March 31st, 1926 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Edward and Clara (Wietmarschen) Mersch. He was one of 9 children.

During WWII, Hank joined the Navy as a corpsman and was stationed in Hawaii. After the war he returned to Cincinnati and began working for Proctor and Gamble which would become his career for the next 35 years.

In Cincinnati he met Esther Mattscheck his wife of 50 years until her passing in 2002. After retirement, in 1991 they moved to Schalamar Creek in Lakeland where he loved to play golf.

His love of family and family gatherings was a tradition. He was passionate about everything he did, some of his cherished memories were working in sports with youth. During the 60’s and 70’s he was the Chairman of the Greater Cincinnati Knothole Baseball Club and Co-Chair of the Kid Glove games. One fond memory was his association with Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt.

Because of Esther's illness, Hank organized the Polk County Family Caregivers. This was due to the fact that there were minimal information resources in our county.

Hank belonged St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council 4726 and American Legion Post 0008 in Winter Haven, Florida

Hank met his wife Cheryl through family and Church and they married in 2004.

Hank is survived by his wife, Cheryl (Banta) ; four children, Colleen (Max) Greissinger of Cincinnati, Ohio, Steven (Joyce) Mersch of Germantown, Ohio, Jerry (Shari) Mersch of Brookville, Indiana, Ron (Suzy) Mersch of Springfield, Missouri; sister, Ruth Kleingers Smith of Middletown, Ohio, sisters-in-law Norma, Cathy, Dorothy, Carol; 21 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Esther, siblings Rita, Edward, Walter, Robert, Paul, Richard, Joseph, and his grandson Sammy.