Martha France

Martha France, 100, of Gothenburg, passed away April 8, 2007, Easter Morning at the Long Term Care Unit of the Gothenburg Memorial Hospital. She was born in Gothenburg on January 23, 1907 to Herman and Jennie (Heidebrink) Gronewold. She attended the Gothenburg Schools and also District 32, the Little Red School.

On October 1, 1927 she married Kenneth France at the St. John's Lutheran Church Parsonage. They lived on the Warren Bothwell farm southeast of Gothenburg and then moved to Gothenburg in 1944. She dedicated her life to her family, friends and the Lutheran Church. She taught Sunday School for many years and was a leader in the Lutheran Ladies Aid, and the American Lutheran Church Women. She belonged to the South Side Sewing Club and sold Avon Products. She was involved in making hundreds of quilts at the Lutheran Church and the Gothenburg Senior Center. She made quilts for all of her grand children and great grandchildren. She also cooked at Rural 81R and 100R, the Gothenburg Senior Center, Head Start Program and the Gothenburg Public Schools.

Martha was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth in 1967, her parents Herman and Jennie Gronewold, three sisters, Anna Pillers, Hannah Knoedler and Elnora Wiederanders, five brothers, John, Ben, Lincoln, Ervin and Pastor Richard Gronewold, Daughter Bonnie Adams, Daughter-in-Law Shirley (Gene) France, Grandson Doug France, Step-Granddaughter Stephanie France, Granddaughter Susan (France) O'Neill, Great Granddaughter Tracy Teppen.

Martha is survived by three children, Gene France of Ogallala, Dolores (Schulz) Heuer of Ainsworth, and Leonard (Marilyn) of Gothenburg, 10 Grand Children, 20 Great Grand Children, 5 Great Step Grand Children and 5 Great Great Grand Children.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 10, 11:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 10:30 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church, Gothenburg, Nebraska, with Pastor Matthew Groenke officiating.

Burial will take place in the American Lutheran Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to American Lutheran Church, Oaks Indian Mission, Martin Luther Home, or the Gothenburg Senior Center.