Martha J. Johnson

Martha J. Johnson, 82, of Davenport, passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Graveside services will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Cemetery in Harper, on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 11:30 a.m. McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf is assisting the family with arrangements.

Martha was born March 8, 1938 in Washington, the daughter of Jesse & Irene (Heyer) Page. She graduated from Keota High School in 1956. On Nov. 8, 1958, she was united in marriage to John Merz Jr. in Keota.

Martha had been employed as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell/AT&T in Iowa City, Oskaloosa, Muscatine, and Davenport for 43 years retiring in 2000. After her retirement she was a valued volunteer for 17 years in the gift shops at Genesis East and Genesis West Hospitals in Davenport.

Those left to honor her memory include many nieces and nephews: Connie and Randy Jacobson, Steve and Roxanne Wombacher, Roger and Beth Wombacher, Debbie and Dave Johnson, Tina and Mike Wolf, and Jim Seaton. Other special nieces include Rosemary Shannon and Marlene Hammes, along with Martha’s cousins, Dennis and Charlotte Petersen, Richard and Gayle Petersen, and sister-in-law, Evonne Merz.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John, her sister, Darlene and brother-in-law, Howard Wombacher, and niece, Jolene Wombacher Seaton.

Memorials may be made to the Genesis Volunteer Auxiliary. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Martha’s obituary at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home.

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