Martha A. Herrmann, 90, was born June 10, 1930 in Cawker City, Kan., and died Jan. 17, 2021. at the Republic County Hospital, Belleville. She was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Irene Carl.
Martha’s grandfather, Theodore Carl, and his wife, Angela Lorig, immigrated from Godendorf, Germany in 1883. They purchased a farm near Waconda Springs, three miles east of Cawker City in an area now covered by the Waconda Reservoir. After her grandfather’s death in 1918, Martha’s father, Nick, ran the farm. That is where she was raised with her eight brothers and sisters.
Martha graduated from Cawker City High School in 1949. On June 5, 1949, she was married to Howard R. Herrmann in Franklin, Neb. They were married for nearly 70 years. Together they raised two sons, Michael and Wayne. In 1968, the family moved to Mankato where Martha was a member St Theresa’s Catholic Church and played an active role in the St. Theresa’s Guild. In 1970 she went to work for Boogaarts Grocery. In 1982 she purchased the Dreiling’s Department Store and for almost 15 years she operated it as Martha’s Clothing. Her kindness and outstanding customer service to the community was the hallmark of her success.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Howard; brothers, Nicholas Carl, Eugene Carl, and Richard Carl; sister, Rose Mary Gravatt.
She is survived by sons, Michael and wife, Erika of Columbia, S.C. and Wayne of Wichita; grandchildren, Ryan Fickle, Bryan Herrmann, Theresa Herrmann, and Troy Herrmann; two great-grandchildren, Braydon Blevins and Piper Simmonds; brothers, Robert Carl of Tulare, Calif., and Edward Carl of Downs; and sisters, Margaret Komp of Indianapolis, Ind., and Loretta Brand of Wichita.
Visitation is from 1 to 8 p.m., today (Thursday), Jan. 21, at the Melby Mortuary, Mankato. The Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 22, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Mankato, with Father Soosai Rathinam officiating. A graveside service will follow in the St. Peter and St. Paul Cemetery, Cawker City.
Online condolences can be left at http://www.melbymortuary.com. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, is in charge of arrangements.
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