Daughters Vicki, Sheila, Sandy and wife Maude will deeply miss their 85 year old father and husband, Marvin, who passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at the Mandan Living Center from complications due to a recent fractured hip.

Marvin was born in Wishek, ND on December 18, 1926 to William J. and Elizabeth (Wolf) Fiechtner. He was an only child. He graduated from Wishek High School in 1944. While in high school, he worked as a delivery and stock boy at the Herr Mercantile Store, receiving 9 cents per hour. He was also the second life guard at the Wishek Swimming Pool, a job he held for several years. As a teenager, Mertz loved hunting and trapping with his best friend, Cal Hoff. He played drums and trumpet in a dance band, The Knights of Rhythm. Marvin earned an Associate Degree from Dakota Business College in Fargo. He returned to Wishek to work for the Huber Insurance Agency. In 1950, he joined his father in the Fiechtner Implement Company located on Main Street in Wishek. In 1951, he married Maude Meidinger at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Wishek. In 1965, his father sold Fiechtner Implement and Marvin became a licensed Insurance agent working for Western States Life Insurance out of Aberdeen, SD. In the 1970's, he attended, Reisch Auction School in Mason City, Iowa and started a career he loved until retirement as a licensed auctioneer. He continued cattle ranching and raising horses as a part time career and hobby. For 35 years, he was the master of ceremonies for the Wishek Sauerkraut Day and Tri-County Fair events. Mertz was active on the Wishek Association of Commerce, the Republican Precinct Committee, the Wishek Park Board, past Chairman of the City Council and McIntosh County Social Services Board. He was Director of the Wishek Diamond Jubilee Committee, charter member of the Wishek Eagles, Riding Club, Square Dance Club and Antique Car Club. He was a member of the Wishek American Legion Drum and Bugle Corp and the Bismarck Elks. A lifelong member of St Luke Lutheran Church, he sang in multiple choirs and was on the Cemetery Board and Church Council. He was a current member of the St. Andrews German Choir. In 1995, he had a massive stroke while vacationing in AZ. He prided himself on being a star pupil in physical therapy and worked hard to return to a full and independent life. Mertz loved to travel and was always game for a 'road trip' with Maude and the family. Even after his stoke, he remained adventurous, traveling overseas twice. Wherever he traveled, near and far, he "never knew a stranger".

He leaves his wife Maude, and three daughters, Vicky (Fiechtner) and Keith Krebsbach, San Antonio, TX, Sheila (Fiechtner) and Boyd Morris, Colorado Springs, CO, and Sandy, New York, NY; a grandson, Todd and Jo Krebsbach, in the military based in Fort Walton Beach, FL; and two nephews, Dr. Keith and Gayle Krein, and Kirk Krein, both of Mesa, AZ. His friends from youth and his many years in the Wishek community sustained him and gave him great joy.


The funeral for Mertz Fiechtner, Wishek, ND will be Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 1:00 PM at St. Luke Lutheran Church at Wishek, ND. Visitation will be Friday from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Wishek, ND. Burial will be at St. Luke Lutheran Cemetery, Wishek, ND.
Share memories and sign online guestbook at www.dahlstromfuneralservice.com. Dahlstrom Funeral Home of Wishek, ND entrusted with arrangements.