James "Pazzie" W. Mertens, age 67, of Kimball died Friday, January 31, 2014 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 3, 2014 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Kimball. A prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. No additional funeral services will be held prior to burial. Interment will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4th at St. Anne's Catholic Cemetery, Kimball, MN.

James W. Mertens was born January 14, 1947 in St. Cloud, MN to Henry & Dorothy (Clement) Mertens. Pazzie grew up and attended school in Kimball. He graduated with the Kimball High School Class of 1965. After graduation, Pazzie proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He then worked as a painter for 25+ years for Doug Klein. Pazzie was a member of the Kimball American Legion Post #261. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, Bingo, woodworking, motorcycles, and drawing detailed artwork.

Pazzie is survived by his daughter and her husband, Jennifer & Rob Hennen of Kimball; 2 grandchildren, Mathias & Mason Hennen; siblings and their spouses, Joan & Edmund Theisen of Perhman, Jean & DuWayne Orbeck of Kimball, Judi (sister-in-law) of St. Cloud, Lona Nathe of St. Cloud, David of St. Cloud, Cherry & John Hengel of St. Cloud, Roxanne & David Donnay of St. Cloud, Debra & Steven Vossen of Kimball, Patrick & Lynda of Fairhaven, Paul of Akeley, and Ramona & Mike Olk of Kimball; and many nieces, nephews and other family members. He is preceded in death by his parents, twin brother, John, brother, Charles, and infant siblings, Carol & Louis.

Jeff Orbeck, Mark Orbeck, Steve Vossen, Mike Olk, Nate Mertens, and Paul Epple will serve as pallbearers. Doug Klein will serve as honorary pallbearer. Arrangements are entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Kimball.

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