Grabau, Marietta Ann Westrum (1928-2018)

GRABAU, WESTRUM, ANGSTROM, THORINGTON, NUNNENKAMP, ROWE, VEDDER

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

FindAGrave Memorial # 190235377

Marietta A. Grabau, 89, of Grand Island, formerly of Boone County, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at Good Samaritan Village in Grand Island, NE surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Grabau in 2017.
There will be a Celebration of Life Gathering from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 2nd at All Faiths Funeral Home. A second visitation will be Sunday, June 3rd from 5-7 p.m. in Boone, IA at Trinity Lutheran Church. Service will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial and committal will follow the service at South Marion Cemetery.
Marietta was born on Sunday, October 7, 1928 on the family farm in Stratford, IA. She is the third of six children born to Martin I. and Mabel E. (Angstrom) Westrum. Marietta was baptized and confirmed in Stratford, IA. She graduated from Stratford High School in 1946 and then attended IA State Teachers’ College in 1946, in Cedar Falls, IA. After graduation she had teaching jobs in Bradford and Logensport, IA. Marietta then married Ted Herman Grabau at her parent’s family farm home on December 26, 1948. Marietta and Ted lived most of their marriage in Boone County following a family tradition of farming and community involvement. Marietta was an active member of the family farm and helped haul grain and provide meals for everyone working the farmland.
As a couple Marietta and Ted loved to travel and were able to visit the Holy Lands, Europe, and much of the United States. They also loved attending community concerts and going camping. Marietta was a devout Christian and many of her interests centered around Trinity Lutheran Church and school in Boone, IA. She was a substitute teacher for Trinity Lutheran School, taught confirmation classes for 13 years, was a PTA member, and helped co-lead Girl Scout troops. She was also an active member of LWML and the Lioness Club.
Marietta and Ted have three children, Annette (Jay) Thorington of Powell, WY, Carla (Lonnie) Nunnenkamp of Alda, NE, and Ted Dennis (Donita) Grabau of Marshalltown, IA. They have six grandchildren, Zachary and Samuel Thorington, Leisa (Morgan) Rowe and Rachel (Morgan) Vedder, Ryan and Lauren Grabau, and six great-grandchildren, Hartly, Addison, and Wyatt Thorington, Bennett and Grayson Rowe, and Alexander Vedder.
Those who knew Marietta best would say that she was one of the kindest and warmest souls they ever had the honor of knowing. She led by example and showed her children and grandchildren how to work hard and live an honest life. She made sure her pie recipes will live on in family gatherings for years to come, taught the necessity of good manners, and provided a model of selflessness that we can all aspire to. Marietta enjoyed years of gardening and tending to her flowers. Marietta loved her cats, and dogs and all the other animals she cared for on the farm.