Doug grew up on a small farm in Metamora, Michigan. He graduated from Oxford High School in 1992 and attended the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Oakland Community College. One of Doug’s great loves was sports, and growing up he played baseball, football, basketball, and soccer. He and his brother, along with their neighborhood friends, often played baseball or football or basketball games until after dark, not stopping until their parents made them come in. His favorite was football, and he was a devoted fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers his entire life. Doug was easy to buy gifts for, as long as it had a Steelers logo on it he was happy. His other great love was his family and friends and his wife Janet, whom he married in 2000. Doug was kind and compassionate, and always willing to help others. He touched the lives of everyone who knew him and he will be dearly missed by his friends and family. Doug was preceded in death by his father George D. Mertz and nephew Cole Zoellner. He is survived by his wife Janet, mother Ethel Mertz, sisters Pamela Dorton, Mary Leininger (Scott), and Suzanne Zoellner, brother George J. Mertz (Amy), Aunt Faith Mertz-Sanderson (Dick), cousin Richard Sanderson, nieces Jacqueline Zoellner, Fran Balluff and Caroline Mertz, nephews David, Michael, and Zack Zoellner, Charlie and Jon Dorton, Brandon Balluff, and Georgie Mertz. The funeral service will be at 4:00 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the Union Lake Chapel of the Elton Black and Son Funeral Home, 1233 Union Lake Rd., White Lake, Michigan. The family will receive visitors on Saturday from 12:00 pm until the time of service.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18