Thomas Martzahn 1917~2004

MARTZAHN

Posted By: Mary (email)
Date: 8/29/2008 at 21:38:59

Thomas Martzahn
Courtesy of the Times Democrat

January, 18, 2004
BETTENDORF -- Thomas W. Martzahn, Jr., of Bettendorf passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004, at Genesis Medical Center-East Campus, Davenport, Iowa. Celebration of life services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday Jan. 19, 2004, at the Runge mortuary and Crematory. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Monday. Burial will be at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established in his name.

Thomas was born on June 17, 1917, in Davenport, the son of Meta and Thomas W. Martzahn, Sr. He graduated from Davenport High School. He was united in marriage to Eloise Gaghagen in Davenport on September 18, 1948. Their first daughter, Becky Ylinen was born on Jan. 1, 1950. She was the first baby of the new half century born in the Quad-Cities on Jan. 1, 1950. She was named "Miss Half Century" by the Quad-City Times and every year after her picture has been in the new years edition. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in China and Burma. He received two bronze stars, the American Campaign Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, & World War II Victory Medal. Prior to his retirement in 1978 he was the manager of the Davenport Credit Union Center. His memberships included, First Presbyterian Church, Davenport; Moline Viking Club where he was an Auditor for many years. Thomas enjoyed traveling and golf. He loved spending time with his seven grandsons, two granddaughters and a great-granddaughter. He is survived by daughters and son-in-law, David and Becky Ylinen, Freeport, Ill., Barbara and John Wessel, Davenport, and Lori and Bob Grbac, Roseville, Calif.; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas W. Martzahn III and Connie, Bloomington, Ill.; grandchildren, Kenneth Bailey, LeClaire, Iowa, Steven and Shea Boyd, Davenport, Nicholas, Michael, Zachary, and Jackson Martzahn, Bloomington, Kendyl and Kayla Grbac, Roseville, Calif.; and great granddaughter, Lydia Rebecca Bailey, DeWitt, Iowa; sisters, Dorothy Parmele, Davenport, Marie Timm, Walcott, and Olivia Wiese, Davenport; several nieces and nephews; brother-in-law and wife, Gerald and Nancy Gaghagen, Davenport; sister-in-law, Lois Gaghagen, Bettendorf, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four brothers, a sister, his parents and grandparents.
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