MERT LOOBY, 78, of 1529 Howard Ave., died Thursday, January 7, 1999 at her home. She was born Myrtle Irene Brettingen on April 27, 1920 in Tainter Township, Dunn County to Clara "Ella" Palmer Brettingen and Helmer Brettingen. After the untimely death of Mr. Brettingen, Clara married Lawrence Madsen, who raised Mert. \r\nAs a teenager Mert played guitar while she and her sister Micki sang at local events as the Rodeo Pals. Mert graduated from Colfax High School in 1939. The caption under her photo in her high school yearbook predicted "she shall have music wherever she goes."\r\nAfter high school Mert moved to Eau Claire to attend cosmetology school. She worked as a hairdresser and managed shops in Eau Claire and Manitowoc. On July 12, 1944 she married Joseph Looby. While raising their family, which eventually totaled seven children, Mert limited her outside work to serving as a pollworker for city elections and volunteer work for the American Red Cross at blood drives. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.\r\nAfter her children were grown, Mert returned to work in a new field. As a tour guide for Wisconsin Northern Transportation Company from 1980 to 1991, she specialized in tours of Nashville, Branson, and the Ozarks. She maintained many friendships from those trips. \r\nMert is survived by her husband, Joe; five daughters, Judi Trippler and Connie (Terry)Hintz, both of Eau Claire, Kathleen (Geoffrey) Thompson of Madison, Cherry (Steve)Kjarsgaard, and Karen(Gary) Padfield, both of Altoona; two sons, Kevin (Sue) of Minneapolis and Brian (Kathryn) of Cedar Falls, IA; two sisters, Marge Peterson, of San Diego, CA, and Micki (Dave) Foster of Eau Claire; one brother Marvin (Carol) Madsen, Menomonee Falls; twelve grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; former neighbor-forever friend Irene and the rest of The Lunch Bunch; and Sheba, her cat.\r\nShe was preceded in death by her parents and step-father.\r\nFuneral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, with Pastor Joel A. Hoelter officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.Friends may call 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Lenmark-Gomsrud Funeral Homeand one hour prior to the services Monday, at the church.\r\nBesides babies and music, Mert derived enjoyment from growing flowers and rescuing stray cats. People wishing to memorialize her life might consider sending flowers or contributing to the Humane Society in her name.\r\nThe family wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Eileen and Marge,who cared for Mert when she no longer could care for herself.

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