Groth, Martha

Martha Groth, 82, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. A memorial visitation will be held at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton, from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10. Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Zion Lutheran Church in Shellsburg, with the Rev. Mark Leckband officiating. Committal services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Martha was born March 25, 1931, in Cedar Rapids, to Louis and Agnes (Voves) Coberly. She graduated from Shellsburg Consolidated High School in Shellsburg with the class of 1948. Martha married Richard “Dick” Ernest Groth on June 26, 1949, at Oak Grove Church, rural Shellsburg. “Dick” preceded her in death on Oct. 18, 2012.

Dick and Martha farmed in the Shellsburg area until 1997 and operated Shellsburg Frozen Foods until 1988. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Shellsburg.

Martha loved to feed and watch birds and was an avid reader and follower of politics and current events. She was a “prayer warrior” for her family. She was like a second mom to her nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her sons, Richard “Dick” (Carol) Groth Jr., and Donald (Cindy) Groth, both of Marion; her daughter, Sandy Koppen of Shellsburg; her grandchildren, Scott (Angela) Groth, Lisa (Curt) Switzer, Vicki (Jim) Wilson, Chad (Pamela) Groth, Mark (Leah) Groth, Peter (Erica) Koppen and Aaron (Hollie) Koppen; and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, two infant sons, one infant daughter and her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Stanley and Jack Coberly.

Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church or the Shellsburg Food Pantry run by Grace Community Church, both in Shellsburg.

Published Oct. 6, 2013 in The Gazette