Merna A. Rechkemmer

MERNA A. RECHKEMMER

Oelwein

Merna A. Rechkemmer, 90, of Oelwein, Iowa, died Tuesday afternoon, July 10, 2018, at Buchanan County Health Center in Independence with her family at her bedside.

Funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Friday,

July 13, 2018, at Christ United Presbyterian Church, Oelwein, with the Rev. Kent Leydens officiating. Visitation is 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and for one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Hospital or the International Messengers Pishana Orphanage Project to support Merna's granddaughter, Laura Rechkemmer's, work.

Merna Arlene Truesdell was born March 5, 1928, in Wyoming, Iowa, the daughter of Roy Leslie and Velma Fae (Whitney) Truesdell. She graduated from Central City High School and received her B.A. in business from the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. Merna taught country school near Central City for two years and then became the business manager at KXEL Radio in Waterloo. Merna was united in marriage to Lewis August Rechkemmer on Dec. 29, 1951, in Oelwein. They moved to California while Lewis served in the military and then returned to Oelwein to farm in the area. They were blessed with three children: Leslie, Jeffrey and Mark. Merna worked as the Stanley school manager for several years. The family then moved to Paris, Texas, where Merna was the business manager at Mercy Hospital for five years. They returned to Oelwein where Merna was the business manager at Oelwein Community Schools until December of 1974.

Merna was a member of Christ United Presbyterian Church and a former state president of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, working to support St. Jude Children's Hospital. She enjoyed bowling, catching fish, playing cards, gardening, quilting, spending summers at the river and winters in Arizona. Merna especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

Merna is survived by her daughter, Leslie Matthias of Albert Lea, Minn.; two sons, Jeffrey (Jean) Rechkemmer of Oelwein and Mark (Jennifer) Rechkemmer of Oelwein; three granddaughters, Laura Rechkemmer, Sarah (Josh) Orchard and Rachel (Ben) Bruggeman; five grandsons, Aaron (Mischa) Matthias, Jacob (Amy) Rechkemmer, Joseph (Jenni) Rechkemmer, Chad (fiancée Jori Ohrt) Rechkemmer and Kristopher (Julia) Rechkemmer; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Merna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lewis, on Sept. 13, 1996; sister, Norma Faust; and a brother, Merlyn Truesdell.

View the online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.