Russell Mertz

Russell Mertz, 75, of Paducah, and formerly of Anna and Cairo, died Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah.

He was born on Dec. 9, 1946, the son of Everett and Charlotte Russell Mertz in Cairo. 

He married Ellen Rose on Aug. 16, 1975. She survives. 

He was a graduate of the Cairo High School class of 1965 and a graduate of Murray State University. He was a lifetime member of Evangelical Lutheran Church and its predecessors. 

He worked in newspaper advertising sales and on air radio work. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and  was stationed in the Republic of the Philippines. 

Survivors include his wife, Ellen; his daughter, Jennifer (Mike) McCann of Ledbetter, Ky.; a grandson, Vincent McCann of Paducah, Ky; a brother-in-law, Ralph “Chico” Travis of Anna; and several other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Carol Travis; and a niece, Sarah Prather.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Metropolis.  Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 31, at the church, with Pastor David Deem officiating.  Interment will be later in Mound City National Cemetery.

The family requests with gratitude that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to PAWS Place Animal Shelter, 52 Dogwalk Rd., Anna, Ill. 62906 (pawspaws.org).  Envelopes will be available at the church.

To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.