John Glenn Merz

John Glenn Merz passed away on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at the age of 33. John was born on June 29, 1990 in Tullahoma and graduated Tullahoma High School in 2008. He was a member of First Methodist Church in Tullahoma where he was active in children's programs and later in the youth group from middle school through high school. He grew up playing most every sport, including baseball, football, soccer, and golf. He played golf from the age of 4 and eventually gravitated to golf as his favorite. He played for Tullahoma High School all four years and was still playing often with friends and family at the time of his death. After high school graduation, John attended Motlow State Community College and graduated from Professional Golfers Career College in Winter Garden, Florida. He then spent time throughout Alabama and found his way to central Florida where he would reconnect with friends and eventually settle there. He was an avid Tennessee Volunteer fan along with his love of golf. He loved grilling, spending time with friends, playing with his boys and taking them to the zoo, the beach, and Saturday waffles at Waffle House. At the time of his death, he was living in Deland, Florida and working in landscape management continuing to enjoy the outdoors. John was a great friend, brother, son, uncle, and cousin, but most of all an amazing dad. John was preceded in death by both grandmothers, Faye Hartin and Joyce Merz, and all four fraternal great grandparents from St. Louis, who he had the pleasure of spending many times with. John leaves behind his pride and joy, two boys, Colton, Age 8 and Hunter, Age 5 along with his parents, Dan and Martha Merz of Tullahoma, a brother Seth, (and fiancé, Holly Sedory) of Charlotte, NC, and Stacy Merz, the mother of his boys. He is also survived by both grandfathers, John (Maribeth) Hartin of Tullahoma and Glenn (Barbara) Merz of Mt. Juliet, aunt, Sue (Brian McKelvy) of Columbia, uncle, Brian (Kelly) Merz of Franklin, TN, and very special cousins, Kaylin (Trey) Sewell of Spring Hill, Dylan Merz of Spring Hill, Alex (Courtney) McKelvy of Hampshire, and Molly McKelvy of Columbia, and a great-niece Kinsley Grace Sewell. He is also survived by a large extended family in St. Louis and others across the country, including special friends, Justin (Michelle) Doglione of Deltona, FL, and Ryan (Trisha) Porter of Orlando, FL. The family will have a private celebration of life service at First Methodist Church, Tullahoma on Saturday, September 16 and a public visitation at Kilgore Funeral Home that afternoon from 3:00-7:00. In lieu of flowers, the family has set up an account for Colton and Hunter's future education. A GoFundMe account has been set up https://gofund.me/570b3003 or donations can be sent to Traders National Bank, Attn: The Merz Boys, 120 N. Jackson St., Tullahoma, TN 37388.