Mertze D. Dahlin, dearest father, husband, community leader, volunteer and a proud Korean War veteran passed away peacefully at Veteran’s Hospital in Palo Alto on July 4, 2018. Mertze is survived by his wife Anh Le, son Rashid Dahlin, daughter Shareen Lopez, grandson Manuel Lopez and numerous cousins and family members.
Mertze was born and raised in Ironwood, Michigan until his father died in a coal mining accident. He, with his mother and brother Bernie, moved to Palo Alto, California where Mertze completed high school. While serving as a medic in the army, he discovered Islam and in doing so met Ramiza, who became his wife of 45 years until cancer took Ramiza Dahlin in 2001.
Mertze was an accomplished engineer. He served as president of the San Francisco Islamic Center and was one of the founding members of the South Bay Islamic Association where he was selected as their first president in 1980.
Mertze also volunteered collectively for 25 years at the San Jose Historic Museum, San Jose Tech Museum and Veteran’s Association Clinic in San Jose. Mertze Dahlin was a kind human being and served his country and community honorably.
