Sowerwine, Martha Maria 1894-1957

SOWERWINE, STOKER, SPECK, BLADEL, MULLER, SCHRADER, DIETERICH, HOLMES, COLE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/12/2012 at 09:39:32

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Oct. 31, 1957

MARTHA SPECK SOWERINE

Martha Marie Speck, daughter of Max and Johanah Stoker Speck, was born January 3, 1894 on a farm near Victor, Iowa. She passed away October 23, 1957, past 63 years of age. She suffered patiently and severely in recent years, and death came after a lingering illness.

When an infant she was baptized in St. John's Lutheran church and later she received instruction and religious training in the Baptist church at Victor. She attended the public schools of Victor, Iowa, graduating from high school in 1913.

On December 29, 1914, she was united in marriage to John G. Sowerwine, and they established their home on a farm near Victor. One son, Donald Robert, was born to this union. In 1916, she and her husband united with the Congregational Church also at Victor, Iowa.

Following the death of her husband in 1928, Mrs. Sowerwine and her son left the farm, lived in Victor for a time, and in 1941 she moved to Grinnell where she has made her home ever since.

She loved her home and family, and appreciated her friends and all who cared for her during the last years of her life which were filled with much pain and distress. She carefully prepared all arrangements for her services, which her son has followed, and she recently wrote that "my life may be ended here, but it has just begun in a larger and better life."

She is survived by her son, Donald, her daughter-in-law, and one grandson Robert John; four sisters, Mrs. F.W. (Anna) Bladel, Rock Island, Ill., Mrs. H.E. (Emma) Muller and Mrs. Cecil (Lucille) Schrader, both of Victor, and Mrs. Mina Dieterich, Des Moines; two sisters- in-law, Mrs. Robert Holmes and Mrs. Donald Cole, both of Ames, Iowa; several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Funeral services were held Oct. 26, 1957 at the Smith funeral home in Grinnell. The Rev. C.E. Kingsley officiated. Music was furnished by Ed Bohstedt. Flower bearers were Mrs. Guy Dunton and Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Crawford. Pallbearers were Kenneth Dieterich, Guy Dunton, Russell Fetzer, Harland Muller, Cecil Schrader, and Herbert Schrader. Burial was in IOOF cemetery at Victor.