In Memory of Verna Mae Marten

Verna Mae (Schleisman) Marten was born on May 29, 1940 in Lake City, Iowa to Lawrence and Mae Schleisman. She grew up in Churdan, Iowa and graduated from Payton-Churdan High School in May of 1958. Verna was united in marriage to Marion John (Marty) Marten on June 24, 1958. The couple were blessed with four children: Suzanne, Andy, Marty, and Lane.

Verna worked as a telephone operator while her first three children were young. After number four was born, she went to cosmetology school in Mason City, Iowa, in the accelerated program. Upon graduation, she worked for several salons before starting her own salon “M’Ladies & Gents” in the early seventies, in Ida Grove, Iowa.  She owned and operated her salon until her retirement.

She was an avid crafter and enjoyed sewing. She sold her creations in her Beauty Shop and always had a project or two going, at the shop, to work on in between appointments.  Besides being an excellent hairdresser, Verna was most known for her jewelry pictures and her memory bears. The bears were hand sewn, by request, out of clothing or keepsakes of loved ones that had passed on.

Verna was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, board games, cards, her flower garden, and crafts, and time with her family.

She was not only a talented and creative women, she was a selfless, giving soul, who often sacrificed conveniences for herself, to make sure her family was well taken care of. Her loving, giving soul will be tremendously missed.

Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Violet (Dale) Banner, Winder, GA; her loving children, Suzanne (Jim) Penn of Wayne, Nebraska, Andy Marten of Battle Creek, Iowa, and Marty (Colleen) Marten of Denison, Iowa; her grandchildren, Kelli (Nathan) Beatty, Jason Marten(Fiancée Megan Sluyter), Steven Marten, Collin Marten, and Kristin Marten; her great grandchildren, Mason, Shayanne, and Reilly Beatty; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Verna was preceded in death by her parents; step father, Herbert Milton; husband, Marion John (Marty) Marten; son, Lane Marten; and infant sister, Janet Schleisman.

Verna Mae Marten, age 75, of Battle Creek, Iowa passed away on Monday, May 16, 2016 at her residence of Battle Creek, Iowa.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Reverend Kevin J. Freese will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Battle Creek, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2016, at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home, of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Battle Creek, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com