Bock, Martha (Ortman) 1877 - 1943

BOCK, ORTMAN, COTTON, DRUYOR, FRICK, HIX, LANGE, GIFFORD, BURNS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 12/5/2023 at 10:36:15

Clayton County Register, 06 May 1943.

Mrs. John Bock, 65, died at the family residence here in Elkader Friday, April 30, at 12:30 p.m. Her death followed a brief illness resulting from a brain tumor.

Martha Ortman Bock, daughter of Henry and Sophia Ortman, was born on a farm in Volga township, Clayton County, Iowa, on December 06, 1877. She attended the rural school in her community and later learned the dressmaking trade which brought her to Elkader. On January 16, 1901, she was married to John Bock, at the home of her parents in Volga township, and settled in Elkader. Except for a two year residence at Albert Lea, Minn., and four years spent on a homestead near Saco, Montana, she spent all of the 42 years of her married life in Elkader.

Martha Bock was an active member of the community, taking an interest in many community affairs, and an active church worker. She was a member of the Dorcas and Frauen Verein of the Evangelical and Reformed church, Order of the Eastern Star, and Ladies Cemetery Association.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Louis, and one son, Carlyle. She is survived by her husband, John Bock, four daughters, Frances, Mrs. J. L. Cotton of Freeport, Ill.; Inez, Mrs. J. Alvin Dru'yor, of Prairie du Chien, Wis.; Kathleen, Mrs. C. H. Frick, of Detroit, Mich.; Naomi, Mrs. E. G. Hix, Jr., of Cedar Falls; One son, Gerald, of Pisgah Forest, N.C., and three grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Minnie Lange of Elkader, Mrs. E. L. Gifford of Dubuque, and Edna Burns of Hopkinton; three brothers, William Ortman of Mederville, George Ortman of Littleport, and Karl Ortman of Ottumwa.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock from the home to the Friedens Evangelical and Reformed church, with the Rev. Paul Kitterer officiating, and interment was made in the East Side cemetery. The pallbearers were: LeRoy Bandow, L. J. Ehrhardt, Charles Meder, Arthur Witherall, Dr. L. A. Meder, and Newell Kramer.