Cleo E. MARTIN

MARTIN, ZINSER, DEEN, BALLOU, COPELAND

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/17/2006 at 17:18:59

August 5, 1925 --- December 4, 2001

Cleo E. Martin, 76, professor emerita at the University of Iowa, died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2001, in Lantern Park Nursing & Rehab Center, Coralville, of pneumonia. Services: 3 p.m. Friday, Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, by the Rev. Kyle Otterbein. The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday. Her body will then be deeded to the University of Iowa Department of Anatomy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed, in her name, to the Rhetoric Department at the University of Iowa.

Professor Martin was born Aug. 5, 1925, on a farm near Goldfield, Iowa. She was the daughter of Roy and Grace (Zinser) Martin. Cleo graduated from UNI in 1946 and taught English at New Hampton High School from 1946 to 1950 and at Waterloo East High School from 1950 to 1954. In 1954, she received her M.A. degree in English, also from UNI. She then began her 38-year career in the rhetoric and English departments at the University of Iowa, where she taught until her retirement in 1992. While teaching at the University of Iowa, she completed her ABD in American Studies in 1963. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the rhetoric and English departments, Professor Martin served as writing supervisor for the rhetoric program, acting chairperson of the rhetoric program, chair of the innovative rhetoric professional development program and director of the writing lab. In 1978, with James S. Davis of the Cedar Rapids AEA, she co-founded the Iowa Writing Project, offering K-12 teachers a new approach to the teaching of writing. Many college-level professors took the course. As well as teaching and supervisory duties, Cleo wrote several articles and gave many presentations, both state-wide and nationally, on the teaching of writing. However, one of her most challenging assignments was during the turbulent days of the Vietnam War protests, when she served on the University committee that dealt with problematic student behavior. That committee's duties quickly changed from dealing with fraternity boys who had participated in "panty raids" for example, to serious war protesters blocking entrances to buildings. Cleo was a calm and thoughtful voice on the committee, always listening, always giving credence and respect to the deeply held beliefs of those on both sides of the issue. Her many awards reflect the influence Professor Martin had on teaching in the state of Iowa. In 1986, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Iowa Council of Teachers of English; in 1992, received the "Golden Apple Award" from KGAN (the only college professor ever to be so honored); and in 1993, she received an honorary doctorate from Morningside College. Although she retired from the UI in 1992, she continued contributing by offering writing courses at the Iowa City Senior Center until her stroke in 1995. Cleo's calm and thoughtful voice will be missed.

She is survived by her two brothers, Don Martin and wife Margaret of Eagle Grove and Leon Martin of Algona; her sister, Miriam Deen and husband Harrison of Portales, Mexico; her niece, Janet Martin and husband Bob Ballou of Monticello; and many other nieces and nephews.

The Gazette -- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
December 5, 2001

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CLEO E. MARTIN
A memorial service for Cleo E. Martin will be held Sunday, August 10, at 11 a.m. at the Foust Funeral Home, Eagle Grove, Iowa. Burial will follow at the Glenwood Cemetery, Goldfield, Iowa. Cleo E. Martin, professor emerita at the University of Iowa, died December 4, 2001. Cleo was born on a farm near Goldfield and graduated from Eagle Grove High School. She was the daughter of Roy and Grace (Zinser) Martin. Cleo is survived by Carolyn Copeland of Coralville, Iowa; two brothers, Don Martin, and his wife, Margaret from Eagle Grove, and Leon Martin from Algona, Iowa; her sister, Miriam Deen, and her husband, Harrison, Portales, N. M.; and many nieces and nephews.

Eagle Grove Eagle --Eagle Grove, Iowa
August 6, 2003