I got news that my aunt Martha Rose Panther Dohman passed away this afternoon. Sadly, it was not a surprise. We had heard she had taken a turn for the worse in the past few weeks and months and had chosen to go into hospice care. Aunt Martha was a beautiful, kind, fun lady with a huge heart. I'll never forget her laugh. She was my mother's younger sister.
Martha Rose Panther was born on February 7, 1936 on the family farm in Lee County, Iowa. She was the last of her family to be born in this home. Her younger sister that would follow her was the first of the family to be born in a hospital.
She married Aloysius (Al) Dohman on April 16, 1955 in Houghton, Lee County, Iowa. They eventually moved to what previously had been the Winnike home on the south edge of West Point. There, they raised a family of thirteen (13!) children. My cousin reminded me of Martha’s comment about all the children. She would, on occasion, follow up the “13 kids”, with “and hardly an idiot in the bunch!”
In her later years, Martha suffered from serious arthritis and spent much of her time in a wheelchair.
Here is her obituary at Schmitz Funeral Home.
Martha Rose Dohman, 86, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 1:29 p.m. Friday, February 18, 2022, at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa.
She was born on February 7, 1936, on the family farm near Donnellson, Iowa, the daughter of Benidict and Elizabeth (Menke) Panther. On April 16, 1955, she married Aloysius T. Dohman at St. Johns Catholic Church in Houghton, Iowa. He preceded her in death on June 30, 2011.
She is survived by thirteen children: Peggy (Warren) Rickleman of Fort Madison, Iowa, Ted Dohman of West Liberty, Iowa, Dan (Deanna) Dohman of Kirksville, Missouri, Steve (Renae) Dohman of Fort Madison, Iowa, Paul (Jan) Dohman of West Point, Iowa, Ed (Teresa) Dohman of West Point, Iowa, Vince Dohman of West Point, Iowa, Teresa (Allen) Wellington of Fort Madison, Iowa, Patty (Kent) Rubey of Montrose, Iowa, Angie (Jeff) Heald of Burlington, Iowa, Jenny (Ron) Marshall of Donnellson, Iowa, Tom (Jana) Dohman of Waukee, Iowa, Jeremy (Julie) Dohman of West Point, Iowa. Also surviving are 23 grandchildren; 6 step grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 10 step great-grandchildren; 1 great great-grandchild and two sisters: Carol Fullenkamp of West Point and Rita Steffensmeier of Fort Madison; one sister-in-law: Bertha Panther of Fort Madison, Iowa; one brother-in-law: Norman Parker of Lee Summit, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Al; three brothers: Urban, Albert, Eugene Panther and three sisters: Mary Winnike, Loretta Blind and Agnes Miller.
Martha was a member of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella and the West Point American Legion Auxiliary. In her early years she enjoyed cake decorating, making bread and crossword puzzles. Most of all she loved her children, grandchildren and laughter.
Friends may call after 12:00 noon, Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. a Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. and Christian Wake Service will be held at 5:30 p.m.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 23 at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.
Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Point, Iowa.
Here are several pictures of Martha from over the years.
We love you Aunt Martha!
 |
Martha's Birth Certificate
|
 |
Behind her little sister
|
 |
A teenage Martha laughing
|
 |
Martha is in the back row, second from right.
|
 |
Martha is the youngest girl in this picture.
|
 |
Getting a bear hug from her older sister, Loretta.
|
 |
Coffee with her mother and her sister-in-law.
|
 |
With her parents and brothers and sisters. Martha is in the front row on the far right.
|
 |
With her parents, sisters, and nephew. Martha is in the front right.
|
 |
Her wedding day.
|
 |
A wedding portrait
|
 |
The real wedding portrait
|
 |
Quite the couple
|
 |
Martha and Al around 2005
|
 |
Martha and Al around 1990
|
 |
Senior picture
|
--Matt
Thank you for the wonderful post Matt! Your fammily also knows how rheumatoid arthritis affects a person. But your mom & my mom could still laugh. We miss her terribly, but grateful she's walking again in Heaven!
ReplyDelete