Laurissa Rose Mertins

Laurissa Rose Mertins, age 95, passed away Monday, December 8, 2025, at Lakeshore at Siena. She was born October 17, 1930, to Ernest and Helen (Nee: Paar) Wurster. She was the first baby born in the Sunnyside Acres subdivision and lived in this area since birth.

She married the young man (Glenn) next door on September 23, 1950, at St. Sebastian’s Church in Sturtevant. She attended Richard School for 8 years and went to St. Catherine’s High School graduating in 1948.

Laurissa worked at Massey Harris, Walker Mfg, Modine Mfg, and retired from J.C. Penney after 20 years of service. She worked the last 13 years as a selling specialist in the Men’s Suit Department.

Laurissa was a member of St. Sebastian Catholic Church where she served in various positions including, as a Eucharistic Minister, President of the St. Sebastian Seniors, President, Vice President and Secretary of the Altar Society, member of the Centennial Committee and helped with the church quilts and volunteered wherever needed. She made quilts for the Kidney Dialysis Center and Homeward Bound. She was also a member of the Catholic Womens Club, Friends of Seniors, The Red Hat Society, and helped as a teacher’s helper in the Kindergarten Class. Her greatest joy was helping others. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy. She treasured time being with family, gardening, embroidering, quilting, going to rummage sales and collecting treasures. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who will be dearly missed.

Surviving are her children, Renee Knutson, Thomas Mertins, and Steve Mertins; grandchildren, Chrystal, Jessi, Jamie, Devon, Annette, and Emily; great grandchildren, Dakota, Dylan, Drake, Aaliyah, Jemma, Riley, Lucas, Savannah, Nevaeh and JJ; sister-in-law, Irene Wurster; other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Helen Wurster; her husband, Glenn in 2002; her son, Daniel; her daughter, Michelle; grandson, Jonathan; daughter-in-law, Cindy; son-in-law, Steve; her brother, Ernie Jr.; and her sister, Rose Marie (Ron) DelFrate;

Funeral services will be held at the Maresh-Meredith and Acklam Funeral Home, 803 Main St, Friday, December 19, 2025, 1 pm with Fr. Juan Camacho officiating. Relatives and friends may meet prior to the service 12 pm – 1 pm. Interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park.

Memorials to St. Sebastian Catholic Church have been suggested.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff at Lakeshore at Siena and Compasses Hospice to their care and support.