Marvel Faye Gertz, 91

One of life’s beautiful souls has died. No better wife or mother could be found. Marvel passed away at the Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Dec. 23, 2017, at the age of 91. She was born on Aug. 27, 1926, in Pickert, N.D., to Milo and Bessie Braaten. She grew up on the prairie of North Dakota with sisters, Adele, Louise, Dorothy and brother Don. In 1936, during the Depression, Marvel’s family moved west and finally settled in Oakland, Calif. A few years later her brother, Michael, was born, completing the Braaten family.

Marvel met Robert, the love of her life, at an early age. They were married Oct. 19, 1940. Her daughter, Marilyn, was born the following year. When Bob was called to war in 1944, Marvel stayed with her family in Hickman, Calif., waiting for her son, Ronald, to be born.

A couple of years after Bob returned from the war their son, Gary, was born. The family purchased their first home in San Lorenzo, Calif. That was the start of many family memories and some life-long friendships. The family moved to the Sacramento area in 1956. Marvel was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom. In 1970, Bob and Marvel built their custom dream home in Roseville, Calif. There they had an active social life with a large circle of friends. They enjoyed going out dancing, entertaining friends and family and traveling.

When Bob retired in 1990, they decided to try something new by moving to the mountains of Shasta County, Calif., buying 20 acres along Clover Creek, building a cabin and living off the grid. This gave them the opportunity to teach their grandchildren new experiences. Whether it was exploring nature and its creatures, swimming in the swimming hole, clearing trails, finding arrowheads or sitting around the bonfire, it was always bonding time and making wonderful memories on this great property where friends and family were always welcome.

Shortly after her husband’s passing in 2000, Marvel moved to Rathdrum, Idaho, to be closer to family.

Marvel was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; daughter Marilyn; sisters Adele and Louise; brother Donald and granddaughters Laurie Larson and Julie Haug.

She is survived by her sons, Ronald, and his wife, Carol, of Rathdrum, and Gary, and his wife, Janice, of Post Falls, Idaho; sister Dorothy Goesch, and her husband, Gerald, of Brentwood, Calif.; brother Michael Braaten, and his wife, Linda, of Twin Lakes, Idaho. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Susan Freeman, Jason Gertz, Erin Rosburg, Valerie Castro, Darcy Winter, Joshua Gertz, Michelle Rhodes and Ryan Gertz; 14 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Her ashes will be interred next to her husband, Bob, in Sutter County, Calif. A date for a family gathering to celebrate Marvel’s life will be scheduled at a later date.