Lawrence Joseph Mertens, 87, died Sept. 21, 2019, at Wheatlands Healthcare Center, Kingman.

He was born May 1, 1932, in Kingman County, the son of Leo and Lucille Miller Mertens. A lifetime resident of the Willowdale community, he was a farmer and rancher.

Lawrence was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church and a 3 ^rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, both in Willowdale, Kansas; and was a U.S. Army veteran.

On May 11, 1954, he married Helen Jacobs at Waterloo, Kansas; she died Sept. 18, 2018. Survivors include sons Darrel, Timothy, Stephen and Michael; daughters Geneva Ricke and Dolores Henning; brothers Leroy, Leo, Donald, Ronald and Marvin; sisters Pauline and Alice Jacobs, Helen Meyers and Karen Lubbers; 20 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers Edwin and John; and sisters Dorothy Swart and Rosella Henning.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Willowdale. Rosary service will be 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Livingston Funeral Home, Kingman. Friends may call from 1-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the St. Peter's Catholic Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be made with the St. Peter Catholic Church, Wheatlands Healthcare Center, or Rivercross Hospice, all in care of the funeral home.