Martha Werner

November 8, 1917 - November 8, 2010

Martha Werner, age 93 of Oldenburg, died Monday, November 8, 2010, at the Waters of Batesville. Born July 29, 1917 in Franklin County Indiana, she is the daughter of Mary (Nee: Giesting) and Henry Holtel. She married Henry Werner June 30, 1937 at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg, Indiana and he preceded her in death December 4, 1976. She was a homemaker and a member of Holy Family Church and the Knights of St. John’s Ladies Auxiliary.Martha was a talented quilter in addition to crocheting and sewing. Each family member has a treasured item she made for them. Her children were given quilts and grandchildren an afghan. Like many of her generation, she made her family’s clothes when they were young and liked making crafts of all sorts as well. While living on the farm, she loved to garden. She raised flowers and because of the size of her family, had a huge vegetable garden along with an orchard that included apples, peaches, cherries, pears, grape vines and more. Her family remembers the enormous fruit cellar their parents had to store the summer’s bounty. Her family also recalled her gentle nature and her ever present smile. Countless young girls benefited from her support and encouragement over the years as Martha was a long time 4-H leader. In 1978 she was honored as “Woman of the Year” for those efforts and accomplishments. When her husband died, she moved into town and was the first resident of the newly opened Meadowbrook apartments. Now with more free time, she became a sports fan and enjoyed watching them on T.V.She is survived by her children and their spouses Joseph and Sue Werner, Rosemary and Jim Swingos, Jerry and Donna Werner, Helen and Gary Lewis, John and Merida Werner, Richard and Barbara Werner; brother Larry Holtel; sister-in-laws Betty Holtel, Henrietta Stein, Gertrude Riedeman, Rita Kramer; 16 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she is also preceded in death by her son Ralph; brothers Alphonse, Paul, Clarence and Ralph Holtel and sister Cleona Barnhorst.Visitation is Friday, November 12th, from 9-11 a.m. at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg. Funeral services follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. Bernard Varghese officiating and burial will be in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to Mind the Gap, Oldenburg Academy or St. Anthony’s Haiti Missionary.