Hodgen, Martha M. 1913-2006

HODGEN, KEFFELER, LENERTZ

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/5/2007 at 10:27:45

Martha M. Hodgen
LeMars Sentinel
Monday, February 20, 2006

Martha M. Hodgen, 92, of Remsen, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, atHappy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.

Martha M. Hodgen was born Oct. 14, 1913, at rural Remsen, the daughter of John and Catherine (Lenertz) Keffeler. Martha was raised in the Remsen area and received her education in both the rural school system and St. Mary's Catholic School from which she graduated in 1930. She then attended State Teachers College in Cedar Rapids where she received her teachers certificate. From 1931 to 1939 she taught in the Remsen rural school system.

On June 5, 1939, she married Glen Hodgen at Remsen where they made their home. In February 1943, they moved to rural Remsen where they began farming and in 1945 they moved to the Keffeler family farm. They retired and moved into Remsen in 1972. In the late 1960s she taught for several years at St. Catherine's Catholic School in Oyens. From September 1978 until November 1990 she was employed part-time as a librarian at the Remsen Public Library.

Glen died March 30, 1983. Martha had been a resident of Happy Siesta since June 30, 2004.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Remsen and the church Guild, Third Order of St. Francis, Catholic Daughters of America, Blue Army of which she was at one time president, Mission Organization, and had taught CCD classes at St. Mary's.

She was a past member of the Sweet Adelines of Le Mars. She enjoyed making quilts and gardening.

Survivors include three sons, Larry of Colorado Springs, Colo., Bill and his wife, Dottie of Omaha, Neb., and John and his wife, Pat of Remsen; five daughters, Mary Ellen and her husband, Jack Barry of St. Petersburg, Fla., Carol Dexter, Kathy and her husband, Bill Castle, Rose Marie and her husband, Steven Loutsch, all of Remsen, and Elizabeth "Betty" and her husband, Ken Pick of Spencer; 27 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Norma Keffeler of Remsen.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and a son, Bob.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Remsen with the Rev. Timothy Johnson officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Remsen.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Fisch Funeral Home in Remsen. There will be a rosary at 3 p.m. by St. Mary's Guild and the Catholic Daughters of America and a vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m., all at the funeral home.

Casketbearers will be Sean Hodgen, Pat Goodman, Robby Castle, Andy Pick, Chad Hodgen and Jason Loutsch.