CROOKS, Martha Emma (Wolff) 1920-2016

CROOKS, WOLFF, GUTZMER

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 8/15/2016 at 10:15:30

Obituary for Martha E. Crooks

Martha E. Crooks age 95 of Nashua died Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at St. John Lutheran Church, Nashua with Rev. Bill Nielsen presiding.

Interment will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens, rural Charles City, Iowa, with Jason Crooks, Dan Crooks, George Carroll, Jack Carroll, Ryan Peterson, and Leon Wait serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Ivan Johnson, Clifford Schilling, and Joe Copper.

Friends may greet the family 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2016, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home - Olson Chapel in Nashua. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

Martha Emma Crooks was born August 23, 1920, in Plainfield, Iowa, the daughter of Adolph and Amelia (Gutzmer) Wolff. She received her education in rural country schools.

On January 24, 1946, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she was united in marriage to Ray Arthur Crooks. The couple lived on the Crooks Family Farm for 58 years, working and raising their family. She took great care for her children and helped her husband on the farm with the dairy herd, raising chickens, hogs and tending to her garden. After canning from her garden she was able to provide abundantly for her family. Martha was also a great baker making breads, pies, cake and cookies. Her renown macaroni and cheese was always a family favorite.

Martha had a strong Christian faith and was active at St. John Lutheran Church and the Deborah Circle. Martha was generally seen at many of the community events. Martha always greeted you with a big smile and a warm hug. She moved into Nashua in 2004 and was continually in touch with all her family and friends.

Survivors include three sons, Roger Crooks of Charles City, Lee (Regina) Crooks of Iowa City, Terry Crooks of Cedar Rapids; one daughter, Marlys (Ron) Brunsvold of Davenport; 20 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; other surviving relatives, Andrea Crooks of Ft. Madison, Jim Ridder of Rudd, Alice Wolff of Charles City, and Don Gillquist of Minneapolis;

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ray in 2000, son, Ron Crooks in 2014; daughter, Norma Ridder in 2012; two brothers, Adolph and Albert Wolff; sister, Margaret Bahlmann; granddaughter, Kelly Crooks in 1981.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. John Lutheran Church in Nashua or Chickasaw County Public Health.

Source: Hugeback - Johnson Funeral Home website