Obituaries : Martha Groth

Martha Groth

SHELLSBURG: Martha Groth, 82, died Monday, September 30, 2013 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

A Memorial Visitation will be held at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. 6th St. in Vinton on Thursday, October 10, 2013 from 4 to 8 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 11, 2013 at Zion Lutheran Church in Shellsburg with Rev. Mark Leckband officiating. Committal Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Martha was born on 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 in rural Shellsburg. “Dick” preceded her in death on October 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, all 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, Iowa.