Rod, Martha Kathleen 1963 - 2019

ROD, KAASA, BRILEY, BENNIN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:43

Martha Rod, 55, of Fort Atkinson, Wis., died Friday, March 15, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, following a brief illness. A memorial service in her honor is at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at the Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson. Visitation is from 4 p.m. Wednesday at the memorial home until time of service. Burial will take place at a later date at Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Martha Kathleen Rod was born June 18, 1963, in Decorah. She was the fifth of five children born to Herbert and Norene (Kaasa) Rod. Martha was born with Down syndrome and brought much joy, love and laughter into her family’s life.
In 1970 she moved to Jefferson, Wis., where she attended St. Coletta School.

She lived in a group home run by Ruth Briley and Millie Bennin, who raised her in the Christian faith with love, discipline and humor. In 2005, the group home, now called “New Beginnings,” was transferred to Ruby and James Copeland.

Martha graduated from St. Coletta in 1984. She worked for many happy years at Opportunities Inc. in Fort Atkinson.

Martha’s favorite activities included traveling with her Wisconsin family in their camper, shopping and celebrating birthdays and holidays. She loved watching her DVDs. Her favorites were episodes of the TV show CHiPS and Disney animated films. In 2010 Martha went to Disney World in Florida, where she met many of her favorite characters, including Winnie the Pooh, Mary Poppins and Mickey Mouse.
Martha was the epitome of the “happy camper.” She was a cheerful, affectionate and occasionally feisty personality. She loved the color green, M&Ms, Tinkerbelle, Winnie the Pooh and her canine pets, Paris and Milo. Martha was always happy and excited to visit her Iowa family and happy and excited to go home to her Wisconsin family.

Martha is survived by her sisters, Janice Rod of Mason City, Carolyn Rod of Decorah; her brother, David (Bette) of Coralville; two nephews, a niece, a grandniece, grandnephew, her godparents, Bob and Jo Rod; her Wisconsin family: Ruby and James Copeland, Mary Bennin, Linda Smith, Mary Jane Simdon and many friends and coworkers.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, her sister, Mary; aunt and uncles, Ruth Briley and Millie Bennin.

Memorials may be directed to Opportunities Inc. or Paddy’s Paws both of Fort Atkinson.

DunlapMemorialHome.com

Source: Decorah Newspapers March 22, 2019

Added April 26, 2019 by Joy Moore:

A burial service for MARTHA ROD is Saturday, May 4, at 2 p.m., in the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Source: Decorah Newspapers April 25, 2019

Lutheran Decorah Cemetery
 

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