STRAHAN, Martha H. (1922-2018)

STRAHAN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/29/2019 at 13:17:36

Martha Helen Strahan
(July 8, 1922 - May 2, 2018)

Funeral services for Martha Helen Henry Strahan, 95, who passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 7, Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Avenue, in Indianola, Iowa. Visitation will be held 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will follow services in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Martha Helen Henry was born July 8, 1922 to Roy and Ruth Brown Henry at the farm home built by her great-grandfather, Robinson Brown, in 1865, now the home of her brother, Merrill. Martha graduated from Indianola High School in 1940. She worked for the Warren County Engineer for two years before entering Iowa State College. Upon graduation from Iowa State in 1946, she married Lowell Eldon Strahan of Martensdale, Iowa at Farmer’s Chapel Church near Indianola, in August 1946. They were married for 60 years.
Their children are Karla Ewert of Hampton Bays, New York, Reid (Cindy) Strahan of Ankeny, Iowa, Paul (Cathy) Strahan of Des Moines, Iowa, and Linda (Gary) Freyler of Olathe, Kansas. In addition to her four children, she is survived by nine grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, Justin (Melissa) Strahan (William, Weston, Sam, Everett, Harrison, Lucy) of San Clemente, California, Lisa Ewert (Bryce) Poyer of Aquebogue, NewYork, Alissa Strahan (Josh) DeGroote (Sabrina, Olivia, Isabella, Eden, Silas) of Ankeny, Andrea Strahan (Paul) Smith (Wesley, Landon, Dawson) of Des Moines, Melissa Strahan (Aaron) Kelly (Jace, Lilah, Mia, Lauren) of Des Moines, Laura Freyler (Josh) Cromwell (Kaiden, Layla) of Kansas City, Kansas, Matthew (Hillary) Freyler of Kansas City, Kansas, Adrienne Strahan (Caleb) Roney (Vivienne, Jude) of Des Moines, and Luke (Elizabeth) Strahan (Cedric, Christian, Peter, Gwendolyn and Johnny) of Ankeny. In addition, she is survived by three brothers, Edwin (Ruth) Henry, Merrill (Edith) Henry, and Dale (Lucille) Henry; sister-in-law, Gloria Henry; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceeded in death by her parents, beloved husband Lowell, and brother Harvey.
She dedicated her life to Christ at the age of ten and was actively involved in Christian work in churches wherever she lived. Her favorite Bible verse, and one that she lived by, was “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6.
Before the children were born, she was Polk County Extension Home Economist for two years. From 1962 through 1975, she was a special education teacher in the Des Moines Public Schools and at Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. When Lowell became the administrator of Lakeview Village Retirement Center in Lenexa, Kansas in 1975, she served as the Activities and Tour Director at the Village until her retirement in 1991.
After Lowell’s death in 2006, she moved in 2007 to The Shores retirement community in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, to be nearer to her Iowa family.
Martha was truly the loving matriarch for her large extended family. She had an incredibly sharp memory and kept in contact with everyone, all without the help of today’s technology. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/