Harriett H. Martin

MARTIN, HAMMEL, GAHN, SINRAM, ARENHOLZ, JERICH, MCCULLY, SMITH

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 8/6/2010 at 13:41:22

Harriett H. Martin, age 92, of Clarksville, Iowa, was born the daughter of Carl August and Fannie (Martin) Hammel on May 30, 1918, in Clarksville, Iowa.

Harriett graduated from Clarksville High School in 1935; she was the last surviving member of her class. Harriett continued her education and received her Teacher’s Certificate in 1937 from the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She taught for a year at the Rinard School in Rinard, Iowa.

On September 18, 1938, Harriett was united in marriage with Rex Hughes Martin of Rippey, Iowa, at her father’s funeral home in Clarksville. They resided in St Louis, Missouri while Rex completed his Mortuary Training. In June of 1939 they moved to Clarksville where they lived the rest of their lives. Rex and Harriett owned and operated the Hammel and Martin Funeral Home for 28 years and also the Hammel and Martin Furniture Store in Clarksville. Later on Harriett worked as a Teacher’s Aide at the Clarksville Community Schools for 15 years, she was a secretary for Ramker Construction in Waverly, Iowa for a couple of years and she had also volunteered with Hospice for three years.

Harriett was a member of the Community United Methodist Church in Clarksville. She was the last surviving Charter Member of P.E.O. IT in Clarksville. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, was on the original Clarksville Community Nursing Home Board of Directors, was on the original board at C.A.R.D (Clarksville Area Recreational Development) Inc., and was also an active member of the Clarksville Community Nursing Home Auxiliary.

Harriett enjoyed music and playing the organ. She was the church organist for many years. She also enjoyed playing at many weddings and funerals.

Harriett died Sunday, August 1, 2010, at the Clarksville Community Nursing Home in Clarksville, Iowa, of natural causes.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rex Martin on January 29, 1966; her parents; and one sister, Ruth Gahn.

Harriett is survived by three children, Dean (Marla) Martin of Fort Myers, FL, Mary (Ted) Sinram of Clarksville, IA, and Jane (Scott) Arenholz of Red Oak, IA; eight grandchildren, Wendy Martin Jerich and Christin Martin of Lakeworth, FL, Shelley McCully and Mark Sinram of Clarksville, IA, Kelley Smith and Tim Sinram of Shell Rock, IA, Matt Arenholz of Olathe, KS and Ryan Arenholz of Waverly, IA; 14 Great-Grandchildren; and one Great-Great-Granddaughter.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, August 5, 2010, at the Community United Methodist Church in Clarksville.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday at the Redman-Schwartz Funeral Home in Clarksville, with a P.E.O. Service at 7:30 p.m. There will be no visitation on Thursday.

Memorials may be directed to the Community United Methodist Church, Clarksville Library or Cedar Valley Hospice.