- Date Of Birth: January 20, 1939
- Date Of Death: November 7, 2015
- State: Iowa
Myrtle “Mert” Strayer, age 76, of Algona died on Saturday November 7, 2015 at the Algona Manor. Myrtle Darlene Diehl Larson was born on January 20, 1939 on a farm near Curlew, Iowa to Orville and Bonnie Diehl. Bonnie died in 1939. She went to live with her aunt and uncle, Mildred and Edwin Larson and was later adopted in 1940. Mert went to Dover County Grade School through second grade and continued at Pocahontas Public School graduating in 1957. In 1957 Mert was united in marriage to Kenneth Gustafson. To this union was born Vickie Kaiser, Connie Hassebroek and Sandy Hentges. The family lived the Navy life for 20 years residing in several states. Mert remarried in 1982 to Glenn “Butch” Strayer of Algona. Mert had lived in Algona since 1976 and was employed at several restaurants and the Hy-Vee bakery. Mert moved to the Algona Manor in July 2011. Mert’s joy in life was family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed volunteering her time, spending time with friends, counted cross stitching, embroidering, fishing, gardening, farmer’s markets and playing Bingo. Left to cherish Mert’s memory are her daughters, Vickie (Joe) Kaiser of LuVerne, Connie (Mike) Hassebroek of Buffalo Center and Sandy (Roger) Hentges of Whittemore; eight grandchildren, Kay Kaiser of Emmetsburg, Kelly (Keenan) Schipper of Papillion, NE, Kenny Kaiser of Algona, Madison Hassebroek of Buffalo Center, Amber Hentges of Sioux City, Anna Hentges of Algona, Amanda and Alyssa Hentges of Whittemore; three great grandchildren, Ellison and Finley Schipper, Quinten Kaiser and a great grandson expected in December; brother in law, Dewayne Gustafson of Laurens; sister in laws, Dorothy (Bob) Conover of Manor, Texas and Darlene Diehl of Dayton along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Kenneth Gustafson in 1979 and Glenn “Butch” Strayer in 2009; grandson, Randy Kaiser in 1980; brother Jim Diehl and sister Delores Mangold.
