Rachel Jorgensen

Rachel Snyder Lyne Jorgensen, 84, passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday morning, December 5th, at Parkview Care Center in Fairfield, IA.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, Monday, December 15th at 7:30 PM.

Rachel was born June 26, 1924 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, daughter of Rose Eleanor Snyder and Charles Franklin Lyne. She graduated from The College of William and Mary in 1945 with a degree in Business Administration. She was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. After graduation, she moved to New York City where she worked as an accountant at Gimbel's Department Store. It was there she met her husband, Bill Jorgensen. They were married August 24, 1946 in Shepherdstown. during their 62 years of marriage, they lived in West Virginia, California, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania before moving to Fairfield in 1995.

Rachel was a stay-at-home mother before going to work at Doylestown Hospital in Pennsylvania as the Admissions Coordinator. She was there for 16 years before her retirement in 1989. She was always active in her church, wherever she lived. She was a deacon, taught adult Sunday School and helped out whenever needed. In Fairfield, she was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was active in the Gamma Circle. She was also a life-long member of the American association of University Women (AAUW). While living in the Washington DC area, she was a member of the AAUW Lobby Corps, and made frequent trips to Capitol Hill to lobby for women's issues. Rachel was a member of the League of Women Voters and active in politics. In Fairfield, she also volunteered in the Lower School library at Maharishi School for several years.

Rachel had a great love of the English language~she was an avid reader and enjoyed doing word puzzles. She was also an excellent cook and enjoyed sewing and all typed of needlework. She and her husband. Bill, traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Ireland.

Rachel was a quiet, strong, intelligent, caring, and loving person. She lived her life with strength, grace, and dignity. Her family and friends will always cherish their precious memories of her. She is survived by her beloved husband, William Jorgenson; her son Carl Jorgensen and wife Camille, and daughter Mary Gagnon and husband Gary ~ all of Fairfield. She is also survived by grandchildren Joseph Jorgensen of New York, NY, Julia Jorgensen of New York, NY, Paul Gagnon of Brooklyn, NY, and Martha Gagnon of Oakland, CA. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Rose Lyne, and her sister, Rosemary Lyne.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to one of the following:
First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield,
Maharishi School, or
Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.

Cards and memorials may be sent to the family c/o:
703 South D Street
Fairfield, IA 52556