Martha M. Gerdes

Martha Maria Gerdes was born on June 22, 1927 on the family farm near Hanover, Kansas, the daughter of William Timm and his wife Emma Kraus Timm. She received her gift of eternal life on July 11, 2014 as a resident of Cambridge Place in Marysville, Kansas. Martha was 87 years and 19 days old. The family received friends Monday, July 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hanover Mortuary. A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 15 at Trinity Lutheran Church northeast of Hanover. Rev. Rodney Fritz officiated. Arlyce Klipp played the organ while the church choir sang “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “Lord Is My Shepherd”. The congregation will sing “Jesus Christ My Sure Defense”, “Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness” and “Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won!”. The pallbearers were Bruce Hawley, Don Thomas, Karen Karsten, Marc Gerdes, Jeffrey Gerdes and Heather Fuller. Burial was in the Hanover City Cemetery. She was Baptized into the Christian faith on July 3, 1927 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hanover, by the Rev. Dr. William Mahler. Her sponsors were Maria Allerheiligen and Maria Licht. Martha was Confirmed in her Christian faith on April 6, 1941 at Trinity Lutheran by Rev. Mahler. Her Confirmation Verse was the text for today’s message, Psalm 37:5. On December 11, 1972 Martha was married to Mr. Fred Gerdes. The service was held here at Trinity and performed by Rev. Donald Behrens. Martha attended a country school as a 1st Grader and then attended Trinity Lutheran School, graduating from the 8th Grade. Martha was a homemaker. Gardening, and playing the accordion for family, friends, and at special community gatherings were two of her favorite pastimes. Martha served her Lord as a life-long member of Trinity Lutheran Church; as a member of the Ladies Aid since 1969; as a member of the LWML since 1962; as a member of the Adult Choir from 1944-2009; as a member of the Braille workers for 35 years; and as a member of the Low German Heritage Society of Marshall and Washington Counties. Martha had an exceptional gift of remembering history, family relationships, and of knowing the old sayings that predicted the weather. She spoke Low German fluently and often transcribed German letters and documents into English. We will miss her sweet spirit and her sense of humor. She was preceded in death by her parents: William and Emma; by her husband: Fred; by her brother: Martin Timm; and by an infant sister: Erna. She is survived by her step-children, whom she considered as her children and who considered her as their mom: Shirley Hawley and husband Ron of Apple Valley, California; Gilmer Gerdes and his wife Sharon of Windsor, Colorado; Mae Thomas and her husband Don of Council Grove, Kansas; and David Gerdes and his wife Sharon of Colorado. She is survived by her 8 Grandchildren: Bruce Hawley and his wife Jennifer; Brian Hawley and his wife Vickie; Marc Gerdes and his wife Darci; Christi Langius and her husband Rob; Karen Karsten and her husband Jason; Heather Fuller and her husband Ron; Shawn Gerdes and his wife Jennifer; and Jeffrey Gerdes. She is survived by her 17 Great-Grandchildren: Blake and Jayden Hawley; Samantha, Joshua and Luke Langius; Cadence, Mitchell and Bethany Karsten; Drake and Lauren Gerdes; Aubrianna, Annalise, Shane and Autumn Gerdes, and Tripp, Maegan and Brode Fuller. She is also survived by her many, many friends. May we cherish her memory. May God comfort those who survive. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Martha M. Gerdes, please visit our flower store.