Mentzel, Martha 1864-1939

MENTZEL, DIERS, KOEHN

Posted By: Ken Johnson (email)
Date: 7/3/2022 at 14:49:23

From the Wed., 15 Feb. 1939 issue of the “Clayton County Register” (Elkader, IA), page 5, columns 4-5:

Death Takes Miss Martha Mentzel In Madison, Nebr.

Miss Martha Mentzel, for many years head of the dry goods department of the Fred Diers and Son store in Madison, Nebr., died at the home of her sister Mrs. Diers, January 15. Funeral services were held at the Diers home January 17, after which the body was cremated. The ashes will be brought to Elkader for burial in the East Side cemetery in May, according to information received by local relatives.

Martha Mentzel, daughter of Charles and Bernadine Mentzel, was born July 15, 1864 on the family homestead in Clayton county. The chosen profession which she followed was that of teaching in the schools of northeastern Iowa.

Following the death of her parents, Miss Mentzel went to Madison and in 1904 entered the employ of Fred Diers and Son, where she was, for many years, head of the dry goods department.

Miss Mentzel’s greatest pleasure was in travel and she visited most of the places in this country of scenic or historic importance. In 1914, while touring Europe with a group of Nebaskans, she was marooned in Venice, Italy, when the World War broke out.

For many years she had been active in work of the Presbyterian church, working especially in the choir and the ladies aid society. The installation of the pipe organ in that church was due, in a large measure, to her generosity.

In community life, Miss Mentzel was active in the Woman’s club, the P. E. O. and the Delphian society. In later life failing health had forced her to give up many of the activities in which she had taken part.

Besides her sister, Mrs. Diers, Miss Mentzel is survived by four nephews, Karl Koehn of St. Paul, Minn.; Oscar and Max Koehn of San Francisco and Harold Diers of Omaha.