Obituaries : Sylvia Ann Merchant

Sylvia Ann Merchant, 87, died Sunday, June 2, 2024, at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton, under the hospice care of Compassus.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Vinton Presbyterian Church, 608 1st Avenue, in Vinton, with Pastor Johannes Poetschner officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until service time. Private Committal Services will be held at Maplewood Cemetery in Vinton.

Sylvia was born on July 17, 1936, in Okeene, Oklahoma to Eli A. and Susanna (Thiessen) Koehn.

She was united in marriage to Ramon "Dale" Merchant on April 16, 1957, at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton. Sylvia and Dale met while Sylvia worked at the Maid-Rite in Vinton. Working in food service continued to be Sylvia's main occupation throughout her life. In addition to working at the Maid-Rite, she worked at the Cedar Rapids Bus Depot and operated the café at the Queen Bee Tavern in Shellsburg which she and Dale owned. After returning to Vinton, she worked as a head morning cook at Virginia Gay Hospital, later cooking for HACAP Senior Dining. After retiring, she joined the Vinton Presbyterian Church and volunteered her skills for many funeral luncheons.

Sylvia did her best to pass her love for cooking down to her daughters with limited success. Her daughters had all worked in food service at some point only to decide it was not for them. Although Sylvia did not initially graduate from high school, she encouraged her daughters to, not only finish high school but to continue their education in some way. Sylvia did complete her GED and numerous dietary certifications.

Sylvia was an avid gardener. If there was available space she would plant flowers in it. She especially enjoyed roses and peonies, but her gardens were always colorful and evolving.

Although she never learned to drive, Sylvia loved to travel. She was able to visit many places in the US via bus trips. Some highlights were New York City, Boston, Maine, Colorado Springs, Santa Fe, Niagara Falls, and numerous other places. She traveled several times to visit her daughter in Maryland, her grandson in South Carolina, and her younger brother in Idaho.

The family initiated a new tradition of Wednesday Wine Night to help Sylvia settle in after moving to her last home.  Available family members would gather at Sylvia's home and assist with home projects, such as holiday decorating, gardening, home organizing, and wine drinking. She looked forward to this night and frequently made a meal for the attendees.  Sylvia also looked forward to our monthly "Cousin's Lunch" event where several generations got together for food, fellowship, drinks, and much laughter.

Sylvia is survived by her three daughters, Melodee Lohrer of Luzerne, Angela (Rodney Stueck) Merchant-Stueck, and Kim (Fred) Frazier of Vinton; 7 grandchildren, Ashley (Brian) Rouse, Cameron (Elise) Lohrer, Mitchell (Michel) Merchant, Teal Stueck, Brody (Erin) Stueck, Jared Seltrecht and Brie (Koby Lint) McKenna; 15 great-grandchildren, Noel, Wesley, Chayse, Emily, Ryan, Madison, Koehn, Kiara, Mariah, Madalynn, Lakeland, Lennox, Eleanor, Sawyer, Hazel; 2 sisters Juanita "Dolly" Krivanek of Cedar Rapids, and Betty (John) Fowler, of Vinton and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dale in 2012; her sister June Eckhart, and 4 brothers, Eldon, Bud, Les, and Chuck Koehn.

Online Condolences:  www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com