Martha Lauer

Mass of the Christian Burial: Will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. Father Ken Halbur will officiate the service. Burial will be in the Hill of Zion Cemetery, rural Orient. The Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements.   

Open Visitation: Will be held on Tuesday, January 27th, at the St. John's Catholic Church in Greenfield fro 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Tuesday, January 27th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. 

Rosary: A Rosary will be held at the St. John’s Catholic Church on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. 

Memorials: To the Matha Lauer memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date. 

Martha Jane Ward was born October 29, 1938 to John & Elsie (Comstock) Ward. She grew up and graduated from St. Malachy’s and Creston High School. She married the love of her life, Homer M. Lauer, on August 27, 1956. They lived on their family farm near Zion, Iowa for 56 years where they raised their four children; Ronald, Kim, Roger, and Carrie.

Martha was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church; starting with membership in Holy Spirit/St. Malachy’s Churches in Creston, then raising her family as a member of St. Mark’s Parish in Orient, and then her twilight years as a member of St. John’s Parish in Greenfield. She belonged to the Altar & Rosary Society and Council of Catholic Women.

As everyone who ever had the opportunity to know Martha knows she was her brother’s/sister’s keeper. If anyone needed anything, she and Homer did everything they could to help them. Martha raised her four children as well as helped her siblings with their families. Martha was very special and loving to everyone. She and Homer rejoiced with the birth of each grandchild and great grandchild. Their door was always open to their nieces, nephews, and babysitting children. Martha loved to rock, cuddle, and love the little ones. Her love had no boundaries.

Her parents and siblings, brothers William and John, and sister, Kathy, preceded her in death and are welcoming her into God’s Kingdom now. Homer preceded her as well and has welcomed her back into his loving arms for life everlasting. God surely has a place for her in heaven and we know she will be looking down upon all of us, showing us all how to love and take care of each other.

Martha is survived by children, Ronald (Dee Ann), Kim (Burt) Maeder, Roger, and Carrie (Jon) Powell; sister-in-laws, Marilyn Fils and Jean Ward; brother-in-laws, David (Marjorie) Lauer and Delmar (Alice) Brown; nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren: Stephanie (Jackson, Anna, & Thomas) Mikkelsen, Sarah and husband Brad (Bailey & Mason) Wilson, Joseph and wife Amy (Alex, Alivia, & Charles) Maeder, Jessica and husband Dillon (Kayla & Colton) Roberts, Pamela and husband Josh (Gabe & Leah) Kaufman, Roger Lee Powell, Rebecca Maeder, Kristin Powell, and Luke Powell.

Martha enjoyed life, family members, and many friends. She was always there to brighten the lives of others.