Martha Lauer

Martha Lauer, 76, of the Hill of Zion area, died Jan. 24, 2015, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. The Rev. Ken Halbur will officiate. Burial will be in Hill of Zion Cemetery, rural Orient. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today with family present 6 to 8 p.m. at the church. A Rosary will be held 5:30 p.m. today at the church. Steen Funeral Home, 101 S.E. Fourth St., Greenfield, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be given to the Martha Lauer memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Martha Jane Ward, daughter of Elsie (Comstock) and John Ward, was born Oct. 29, 1938.

She grew up and graduated from St. Malachy’s and Creston High School.

On Aug. 27, 1956, Martha married Homer M. Lauer.

They lived on their family farm near Zion for 56 years.

Martha was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church; starting with membership in Holy Spirit/St. Malachy’s Churches in Creston, then raising her family as a member of St. Mark’s Parish in Orient, and then later as a member of St. John’s Parish in Greenfield. She belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society and Council of Catholic Women.

Martha is survived by her children, Ronald (Dee Ann), Kim (Burt) Maeder, Roger and Carrie (Jon) Powell; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Fils and Jean Ward; brothers-in-law, David (Marjorie) Lauer and Delmar (Alice) Brown; grandchildren, Stephanie Mikkelsen, Sarah (Brad) Wilson, Joseph (Amy) Maeder, Jessica (Dillon) Roberts, Pamela (Josh) Kaufman, Roger Lee Powell, Rebecca Maeder, Kristin Powell and Luke Powell; and 12 great grandchildren.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, William and John; and sister Kathy.