Jerry E. Merta Jr., 88 of Fairfax, died Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2011 at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Parish. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, where full military rites will be conducted. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW, where there will be a 4 p.m. rosary and a 7 p.m. parish vigil. Jerry was born September 5, 1922 in Amana, the son of Jerry and Josephine (Dostal) Merta. Jerry served in the United States Army during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He married Helen Dostal on November 18, 1947 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Jerry worked for Zobac Construction for ten years before establishing Merta Concrete Construction Company in 1963. He owned and operated the family business, now in its second generation, for over 25 years. Jerry retired completely in 1994. He was well known for his attention to detail in his profession. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, polka dancing, and spending time with his family at picnics and get-togethers. Jerry is survived by his wife, Helen; his son, Dennis (Sharlene) Merta and their children Brian, Lonnie, and Denise; his daughter, Patricia (James) Brush and their children Tamara and Jeremy; seven great-grandchildren Jace, Teagan, Blake, Braylon, Reese, Ella, and Tyler; sisters, Darlene Trachta, Dorothy Vavricek, Louella (George) Sundberg, and Dolores (Larry) Phillipe; sister-in-laws Betty, Peggy, Kate, JoAnn, and Judy. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Don, Bob, Eldon, Richard, Kenneth, and Marvin. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Blessed John XXIII Church or Fairfax Fire Department.