Tony Merz

Tony Merz liked his rock music, loved his beer, and was rarely seen without a Marlboro between his fingers. Underneath his party boy exterior, however, was a man who valued his family and friends more than having a good time. When push came to shove, Tony could be counted on to be there for those who needed him.

Tony came into the world just two days before the fourth of July in 1968. Although he was too young to appreciate the festivities that first year, he would grow up to love fire and fireworks. His proud parents were Joseph Merz and Mary Skinner. The youngest child of two, Tony had a three-year-old big sister, Chris, waiting for him at home. An observant and outgoing child, when Tony first noticed his shadow on the wall from his crib, he alerted his parents by saying “man-man on the wall!”

Although Tony was born in Kalamazoo, he and his sister grew up on South Scott Lake in Bangor, Michigan. The lake and surrounding area provided lots of fun activities for Tony as he grew up, as well as many opportunities to go just where he shouldn’t! Usually the leader of his group of friends, Tony’s parents can recall how he fell through the ice several times, and was usually up to something or the other... like trying to catch a skunk. Tony and his friends enjoyed bike riding, playing baseball, and swimming, both in the lake and in the Merz family pool.

When it was time for Tony to go to school, he attended Bangor elementary and middle school. At this point, the family moved to Portage, and four years later he graduated from Portage Northern High School. Although he stuck it out, school wasn’t an easy fit for Tony – he was too goofy and high-spirited to really enjoy the monotonous coursework. During his senior year, he also had to adjust to a new family situation when his parents divorced. In his free time, he studied karate, eventually earning his black belt.

Even as a child, Tony was already interested in what would be a lifelong passion for him, turning into both hobby and career – cars. He had a natural talent for figuring out what made them run. Much of what he knew about auto repair and maintenance he picked up easily, just by tinkering with his own cars and those of his friends. His first car, of which he had many fond memories, was a GTO muscle car. In fact, his mechanical aptitude was not limited to automobiles – friends and family remember that Tony could fix “just about anything.” His favorite quote was "but you can't fix stupid.”

After graduation, Tony earned a living working as a car technician in businesses such as Shell. He was a hard worker, and his hands showed it. Like many hard workers, Tony had a “work hard, play hard” attitude towards life. After a good day’s work, he loved to party with his buddies, play cards, and go to the casino. Most recently, he was working at Lentz on Sprinkle Road.

As a young man, Tony dated different women but never really found that one special person. He was, however, blessed by the births of two daughters. His oldest daughter, Sam, is twenty, and his youngest, Gabby, is sixteen. Tony was a playful dad, and loved to spend time with his daughters.

In his free time, Tony liked to stay in shape by bike riding and lifting weights. He used some of the karate techniques he learned as a teenager when he entered a “Toughman contest,” a boxing competition open to amateur fighters with no more than 5 sanctioned wins in the past 5 years. In a less official capacity, he also loved to fight and contest at the Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo. In the winter, he could often be seen riding his snowmobile or skiing down the slopes.

Tony Merz was an easy-going, fun-loving guy, a loyal friend and a gifted mechanic. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his many friends and family members.

Tony died unexpectedly in his home on January 5, 2012, at the age of 43. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Edgar and Theresa Hildebrecht, George and Bernice Merz, and LeRoy Lawson. His family includes his daughters, Samantha Smith and Gabrielle Merz; his parents, Mary (Lawrence) Skinner and Joseph Merz; his sister, Chris (Rick) Molenda; his nieces, Jessica and Kelly Molenda; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Learn more about Tony, view his Life Story film, and share in some refreshments with his family and friends on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler; 6080 Stadium Dr. 375-2900. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Catherine of Siena Church, followed by a luncheon in the church hall. Burial will be in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor. Please visit Tony’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read his Life Story, archive a memory, view photos, or sign his memory book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial donations may be directed to Gabrielle’s Education Fund c/o Mary Skinner.