Clarence Amos Martz 1921-2005

MARTZ, BRIDGEMAN, HAYES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/1/2009 at 00:58:14

Clarence Martz
February 26, 1921-August 21, 2005

Clarence "Jim" Martz, age 84 of Ute, Iowa, died Sunday, August 21 at Onawa, Iowa.

Services were held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 25 at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Ute with Rev. Fred Pilecki officiating. Burial was in St. Clair Cemetery, Ute. Connie Bridgeman was the organist for the service and the congregation sang, "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art". A prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Clarence "Jim" Amos Martz was born February 26, 1921, at Mapleton, Iowa, the son of Oliver and Elsie (Bridgeman) Martz. He moved with his family to the Albia-Ottumwa, Iowa area. After the death of father, Jim lived with Lillie and Russell Bridgeman. At the age of 13, he went out on his own working as a stable boy and was later employed by Cril and Marie Flynn of Ute as a farm hand. On October 15, 1943, Jim was united in marriage to Clara Mae Hayes. In 1944, they moved to their farm near Ute. After 60 years of marriage, Clara passed away July 3, 2004.

Jim was a member of the Ute United Methodist Church until its closing at which time he became a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Mapleton. He was a kind man and devoted husband and father.

Those family members left to cherish their memories of Jim include one son and his wife, Don and Laura Martz of Ute, Iowa; one daughter, Norma Mohr of Mapleton, Iowa; five grandchildren, James R "J.R.". Martz of Sioux City, Iowa, Jessica Jepsen and her husband, Fred, of Charter Oak, Iowa, James Mohr and his special friend, Laura Grapes, of St. Louis, Missouri, Russell Mohr and special friend, Jennifer Burbridge, of Ute, Iowa, and Lance Mohr and his special friend, Kristen Strunk, of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; two great grandchildren, Landon and Beau Mohr; two brothers and their wives, LeRoy and Leona Ostemeyer of Albia, Iowa and Frank and Lorraine Martz of Wakonda, South Dakota; two sisters, Pearl Heck and her husband, Orville, of Princeton, Missouri and Bertha "Pete" Marchel and the late Buddy Marchel of Lafeyette, Indiana along with many other relatives and good friends.

Along with his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his son-in-law, Les Mohr; one brother, Raymond; two sisters, Ada Purdy and Clara Strong.

Pallbearers were J.R. Martz, James Mohr, Russell Mohr, Lance Mohr, Jessica Jepsen and Fred Jepsen.

Arrangements were made under the direction of the Armstrong Funeral Home of Ute.