Rita Mae Martin (1935-2018)

MARTIN, KURT, MOORMAN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/25/2018 at 14:15:54

Rita Mae Martin, 82, of Bernard, Iowa, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade, Iowa
Friends and relatives of Rita may call from 2 to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade, Iowa, where a Rosary will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friends may also call after 8:30 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.
Services for Rita will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 4, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Garryowen, Iowa with Rev. Douglas Loecke Presiding. Burial will be held in St. Aloysius Cemetery in South Garryowen, Iowa.
Rita Mae was born July 3, 1935 near Bernard, Iowa, daughter of John G. and Ella (Moorman) Kurt. She attended school in rural Jackson County. After graduation she worked for various families in their time of need. On January 31, 1959 she was united in marriage to John W. “Billy” Martin by Rev. James Cassidy. He preceded her in death on May 11, 1988.
The couple farmed together in partnership in the daily farming activities, with Rita doing all the bookkeeping activities. After Billy’s death on May 11, 1988, Rita continued to farm and do the bookkeeping, as well as cleaning for several house- holds and the Bernard Telephone company for 18 years before retiring in 2011.
She was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Garryowen, Iowa, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and Sacristan for many years.
She is survived by six children, Susan (Doug) Petersen of Spragueville, IA, John (Kathy) Martin, Patricia (Gerald) Driscoll, David Martin (Marcia Martin) and Thomas (Shelley) Martin all of Bernard, IA and Loras (Lisa) Martin of Charlotte, IA; 15 grandchildren; 2 step grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; two sisters, Lois Donovan of Bernard, IA and Sr. Mary Kurt-RSM of Cedar Rapids, IA; and four brothers, Charles (Kit) Kurt and Earl (Louetta) Kurt both of Cascade, IA, Tom (Rita) Kurt and Pete (Mary Jane) Kurt both of Bernard, IA; two sisters-in-law, Marie Kivlahan and Murilla Gehl both of Cascade, IA; and several nieces and nephews.
She is also preceded in death by her parents; her father and mother-in-law, Daniel and Mary (Stanton) Martin; five siblings, Germaine (Harlan) Bechen, Henry Kurt, Dorrance (Betty) Kurt, Sr. Bernice Kurt-R.S.M. and Jane (Lloyd) Steffen; her brothers and sisters-in-law, J.C. Donovan, Joe (Kathleen) Martin, Madonna (Gene) Redmond, William Kivlahan and Richard Gehl.