Obituary of Rachel Mertz

Rachel was born December 6, 1917 near Beattie, Kansas. She passed away in Lodi, Saturday, November 12, 2005. Her husband of 68 years, Edgar D. Mertz, was a constant source of strength and comfort. Rachel was the eldest daughter of Loyd and Verena Wikoff. Her surviving family includes her brother; Austin Wikoff and two sisters; Anna Marie Bailey and Patricia Killen. She is preceded in death by two brothers; Charles and Clayton Wikoff. The family were natives of Kansas where Rachel spent her youth. They moved to Shafter, California in 1936 where she met Edgar. Their marriage on February 16, 1937 provided a lasting relationship of mutual trust and friendship. They moved to Lodi in 1937 where she made a home for her family, developed lasting friendships and lived a fulfilling life. She was the devoted mother of Betty L. Seibly and her husband J. Thomas Seibly of Lodi, LeRoy D. Mertz and his wife Carol of Lodi, and Stanley W. Mertz and his wife Katie of Winters, loving Grandmother of; J. Gregory Seibly, Stephen Seibly, Julie Mertz, Derek Mertz, Jennifer Seibly, Camber Mertz, Kacey Mertz, and 9 Great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her grandson Kevin Dale Mertz. Rachel was not one to sit idle. She managed a home, worked on the family dairy, where much to her chagrin she helped milk cows before the crack of dawn, and later was Office Manager in the family construction business. Her creative talents as a seamstress and needle crafter benefited her entire family. She was an active member of the Fairmont Seventh-day Adventist Church. She and Edgar devoted a great deal of time traveling with Maranatha Volunteers International, building churches and schools. Visitation will be at the Lodi Funeral Home, 725 S. Fairmont Ave, Thursday, November 17th, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service at the Lodi Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, November 18th at 11:00 a.m. Memorial Contributions to Rachel?s memory may be made to Maranatha Volunteers International, 1600 Sacramento Inn Way, Suite 116, Sacramento, CA. 95815 or at www.maranatha.org.