Obit: Herr, Martha #2 (1909 - 2012)

Contact: Audrey Roedl
Email: audero@charter.net

Surnames: Herr, Niemi, Saari, Book

----Source: The Loyal TRG (Loyal, Clark County, WI) 19 October 2012

Herr, Martha (22 Aug 1909-09 Oct 2012)

Martha E. Herr, 103, formerly of Greenwood, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, at Colonial Center, Colby. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Greenwood. Rev. Joseph Follmar officiated.

Martha Ellen Niemi was born on Aug. 22, 1909, in Dekalb, Ill., the daughter of John and Maria (nee Saari) Niemi. Her parents moved to a farm near Longwood when she was 2 years old, because ther was a local Finnish settlement there. She attended Longwood School until the 8th grade, but was not able to continue her education because her mother died when Martha was 9 years old. She married Francis H. Herr at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenwood, on Nov. 30, 1940. They farmed north of Greenwood until retiring in 1979. Her husband, Francis, died on Feb. 16, 1997. She had been a resident at Colonial Center since March 5, 2007. The family hosted a large 100th birthday party for her, which she enjoyed very much. She had many interests, but especially enjoyed crocheting and sewing and was an avid gardener. Her grandchildren have many happy memories of her playing cards and games with them.

She is survived by a daughter, Marianne (Rick) Book, Fountain Valley, Calif; a son, Francis (Juanita) Herr Jr., Austin, Texas; six grandchildren, Jeff (Heather) Book, Huntington Beach, Calif., Shane Book, Fountain Valley, Calif., Melissa (Alan) Piercy, Raleigh, N.C., Lynn (Patrick Morgan) Herr, Palo Alto, Calif., Jenny (Mark) Coffey, Raleigh, N.C., and Grant Sarah) Herr, Raleigh, N.C.; and five great grandchildren, Lucas, Herr, Austin, Texas, Ashton and Nolan Herr, Raleigh, N.C., Quinn Coffey, Raleigh, N.C., and Nathan Book, Huntington Beach, California.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Francis Sr.; an infant son; one sister, Lillian Russow; and two brothers, Jack Niemi and Walfred Niemi.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com. 

Cuddie Funeral Home, Greenwood, assisted the family with arrangements.