Holcomb-Foster, Martha Louise

Martha Louise Palmer Holcomb-Foster, 76, of 3225 Willowridge Rd., Marion, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, following a sudden illness. A Celebration of Life service will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion by Pastor Brent Schulte. Friends may call one hour before the service at the funeral home. Martha has donated her body to the University of Iowa Department of Anatomy Carver College of Medicine so her legacy of helping others might continue.

Martha was born in Springville on April 18, 1935, to Samuel and Janette Palmer. She graduated from Springville with the class of “53” and Kirkwood Community College in 1983. Martha was united in marriage to Andrew D. Foster at the Little Brown Church in Nashua on Nov. 1, 2003.

Survivors include her husband, Andy; her daughter, Julie K. (Ken) VonMuenster of Anamosa; a son, Greg (Janet) Holcomb of Martelle; two stepsons, Dr. Scott (Dr. Samia) Foster of Davis, Calif., and Grant (Sandra) Foster of Huxley; six grandchildren, Erin (Tim) Goode, Nick (Meghan) and Katlyn VonMuenster, Amy, Andy and Adam Holcomb; two stepgrandchildren, Sam and Elizabeth Foster of Huxley; a sister, Wava (Jerry) Schmidt of Lisbon; a brother, Nyle (Jane) Palmer of Marion; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Leo L. Palmer, and his son, David Palmer.

Martha was married to Arlen L. Holcomb on May 22, 1954. They lived on a farm many years in the Martelle area. They later divorced. Martha was employed as a teacher associate at the Martelle Elementary School, at St. Luke's Hospital for 15 years, as a professional Nanny for 10 years and then at Oakland Road Hy-Vee. She volunteered at St. Luke's and Mercy hospitals, accumulating many hours of service.

She also enjoyed homemaking, embroidery, decorating, flower gardening and traveling and ballroom dancing with Andy. She volunteered at the Paramount and Theatre Cedar Rapids.

Martha was a 25-year member of the Martelle Century Club, a member of the Martelle Christian Church and Ladies Aid, Greenfield Industrial Club and the Anamosa Foreign Exchange Student Chapter. She was presently active in Beta Sigma Phi sorority Preceptor Beta Epsilon Chapter, was a member of the Antioch Christian Church, the Women's Ministry and The Red Hat Society in Marion.

As a tribute or a donation of organs and tissue that can truly be a Gift of Life for someone else, if you wish, please call Iowa Statewide Organ Procurement Organization at 1 (800) 831-4131.

Please sign the online guest book for Martha at  under obituaries.

Published Nov. 19, 2011, in The Gazette