Martin, Lavina Jean

Lavina Jean Martin, 78, died Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at Mercy Iowa City. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the United Methodist Church in Anamosa. Pastor Laurie Riley will officiate at the service. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Surviving are her husband, Virgil; two daughters, Vickie (Kurt) Freeman of Marion and Linda (Merle) Miller of Tiffin; four grandchildren, Angela (Paul) Hockaday, Jasen (Tanya) Freeman, Jannea and Trent Miller; three great-grandchildren, Celia and Gus Hockaday and Joel Freeman; a sister, Clara Hinders of Marshalltown; a brother, Harvey (Jeanette) Beenken of Grundy Center; many nieces and nephews; and many grand-cats and grand-dogs, including her special companion, Buzz.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Rickie (1973); seven sisters, Katharina Ridder, Mariam Bohlen, Lena Anderson, Leta Gerloff, Mildred Katzer, Pearl Hartgrave and Anna Mae Clemons; and four brothers: Lutjen Jr., Wilbur, Edward and Alfred Beenken.

Lavina Jean Beenken was born Nov. 3, 1934, in Holland, Iowa, the daughter of Lutjen and Mildred Sink Beenken. On May 2, 1953, Lavina was united in marriage to Virgil Martin at the Grundy Center Methodist Church. Lavina and Virgil owned and operated V and L Pastries in Parkersburg and Lake City for many years. Lavina later went to work for Square D in Cedar Rapids, then moved on to Collins Radio, where she worked close to 20 years.

Lavina was a member of the United Methodist Church in Anamosa for 50 years, a member of the AMVETS Auxiliary, an IBEW member, and a proud Den Mother for Cub Scout Pack 67.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend and will be missed dearly by those closest to her.

Published Dec. 21, 2012 in The Gazette