Calling all potential Swiss Miss candidates!
The race for next year’s LPSS Swiss Miss begins during the Schwingfest with button sales for this year’s Oktoberfest. If you are interested in running in this year’s competition, please contact Annette Albert at 360-748-9751, so buttons can be ordered for you. All Swiss Miss candidates receive a lifetime LPSS Membership and 15 to 25 percent of their button sales. Those that sell over 800 buttons are also eligible for a $200 scholarship. Candidates need to be a member, have a parent that is a member, or be sponsored by a member.
William H. ‘Bill’ Merz
William Herbert Merz, 94, passed away peacefully June 6, 2010, at the Hospice Care Center.
Bill was born to Swiss immigrants, Johann and Elise (Jungen) Merz in the Swiss community of Helvetia, Ore., Sept. 8, 1915. As one of 12 children, Bill learned at an early age to help on the family dairy farms in Deer Island, Battle Ground, and eventually Kalama where his family settled. Bill graduated from Kalama High School and then married Juanita Northness in 1938. They had three children, Louise, William and Jeffery. Juanita preceded him in death.
Bill was a dairy farmer for 25 years owning farms in Willow Grove and Kalama before he was employed by the Cowlitz County Road District where he retired in 1980.
In 1984 Bill married Jayne Tester, she survives him at home in Castle Rock.
In addition to his first wife, Bill was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, John, Lewis, Don and Kenneth; six sisters, Edith, Marie, Eloise, Jessie, Carrie and Lillian; and a daughter, Louise Spalding.
He is survived by a sister, Virginia Welch; his wife, Jayne Merz; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Bill and Debby Merz, and Jeff Merz; a son-in-law, George Spaulding; a stepdaughter, Theresa Glazer; a step-son, James Tester Jr.; nine grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Bill was a lifetime member of the Lewis – Pacific Swiss Society and Portland Swiss Society. He was past president of the Cowlitz County Saddle Club, a 4-H leader, member of the Washington Farm Bureau, and charter member of the Highland Dairy.
In addition to dairy farming, Bill also raised registered Black Angus beef cattle and German shorthaired dogs for bird hunting. In his early years, Bill was also active with horses and owned the top speed horse in the Northwest. He also participated in gaming events and calf roping. Always the outdoorsman, Bill was an avid fisherman and hunter. He also enjoyed spending time at the beach clam digging and was famous for the smoked meats, fish, and wurst (sausage) from his smokehouse.
Bill’s grandchildren kept him very busy by attending their 4-H activities and sport competitions. With a graying beard, he also entertained his grandkids at many Christmases by dressing up as Santa Claus. Bill remained very social in his later years and enjoyed being around people, especially the daily breakfast crowd at the 49’er Restaurant in Castle Rock. He also loved his Bernese Mountain Dog, Fritzi, which he participated with in many parades throughout the Northwest for the last six years. Bill was very proud of his Swiss heritage and enjoyed the Yungen-Merz family reunions at his grandparents house (The Helvetia Winery Visitor Center), as well as the Annual Helvetia and Francis Swiss picnics.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Community Home Health & Hospice, P.O. Box 2067, Longview, WA 98632 or the Castle Rock Volunteer Fire Fighters, P.O. Box 205, Castle Rock, WA 98611.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Kalama United Methodist Church. There will be a private internment.