Kirchner, Martha (Elliott)

Martha (Elliott) Kirchner

1922 - 2013

Martha M. Kirchner, 90, of Ottawa, Ill., passed away peacefully Monday, April 15, 2013, at Pleasant View Lutheran Home, following a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Faith Lutheran Church with fellowship to follow. Arrangements are through Mueller Funeral Home, Ottawa, Ill.

Martha was born on June 24, 1922, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Earl and Opal (Misbach) Elliott. She married Miles F. Kirchner on Dec. 10, 1942, in Missouri. Miles died in 1999 at the age of 99. They celebrated 56 years of marriage together.

A lifelong scholar, Martha graduated in 1940 with honors from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids. In 1966, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids. A Phi Beta Kappa member at Coe College, she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for postgraduate study in German at Phillips University in Marburg, Germany. In 1973, she was awarded a Master's Degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Martha taught German for over 15 years at Ottawa Township High School and often led student trips to Germany. She retired in 1982. Martha was a devoted Christian and bible study member at Faith Lutheran Church. She was a lifetime member of the Illinois State Education Association and the National Education Association. She was a 2000 hour volunteer at Ottawa Community Hospital, knitting instructor, AARP financial consultant, member of AAUW and the Ottawa Garden Club.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Miles; and brothers, Robert, George and Jack.

Martha is survived by son, Robert L. (Jane) Kirchner; and grandson, Michael of Council Bluffs; and son, Kevin “Sandy” (Holly) Kirchner of Ladd; sister-in-law, Jean Elliott of Cedar Rapids; nieces, Sheryl Neal of Williamsburg, and Linda (Dave) Jandik of Cedar Rapids and Toni (Jim) Pickering of Cedar Rapids; and many grandnieces and nephews.

Martha was loved dearly and will be greatly missed.

A special thank you to the caring nursing staff at Pleasant View.

Memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church or the Chapel Fund at Pleasant View.

The online guest book may be viewed and remembrances shared at .

Mueller Funeral Home, 800 First Ave., Ottawa, IL 61350; (815) 434-4433.

Published in The Gazette April 19, 2013.