Mervin Jay Wilhelm

Mervin Jay Wilhelm, age 80, beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend peacefully passed away at home on January 27, 2026. Merv was born on January 19, 1946, in Snowflake, Arizona. He married the love of his life, Roxanne Day on August 23, 1968, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. They were blessed during their marriage with seven children.

Mervin is survived by: his wife, Roxanne; and six of their children, Heather Pusey (Noel), Lana Meyers (Sonny), Rachel Bryce (Boyd), Joshua (Kristin), Brigham (Cassie) and Miles (James Capps) along with twenty-one grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mervin was preceded in death by: his son, Porter Jay Wilhelm; and his parents, Bateman Harry Wilhelm and Ora Heap Wilhelm.

Throughout the years of owning his own construction company, the hardware store in St. Johns, and working on the family ranch, he worked many hours to provide all he could for his family. He sought out opportunities to serve others and his community and included his family as often as he could. He served faithfully as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including as a young missionary in the Liverpool England Mission and as a Bishop for several years. He loved to ride his mules, read, recount stories of life, and leave things better than he found them. He will be missed on the trails he rode, at the cabin, at home, and by his many friends and family.

Funeral services for Mervin will be conducted Saturday morning, February 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at the St. Johns Downtown Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Bishop Larry Chlarson of the Meadows Ward. Concluding services with military honors conferred by the United States Army Honor Detail will follow in the St. Johns Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening, February 5, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at the Vining Funeral Home and Saturday morning, February 7, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., at the St. Johns Downtown Chapel Relief Society Room of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Arrangements are entrusted to Vining Funeral Home of Safford and Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor.

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