Obituary
Sept. 16, 1913 - July 6, 2012
ELKHART — Leona Martin, 98, of Elkhart, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, July 6, 2012, while at the Elkhart Hospice House.
She was born Sept. 16, 1913, in Chicago. On June 27, 1937, she married the late Donald L. Martin in Elkhart.
Survivors include two daughters, Barbara (Dwight) Tapley of South Bend and Sarah Kaser of Elkhart; eight grandchildren, Kathy (John) Drew, Kristine (Eric) Kinsman, Kimberly Kaser, all of Elkhart, Holly Tapley of Surkhet, Nepal, Tammy (Brent) Howland of Mason City, Iowa, Debby (Nick) Helmkamp of Hudsonville, Mich., Rebekah (Keith) Pederson of Xenia, Ohio and David (Rachel) Tapley of Lima, Ohio; and her precious 17 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, August and Caroline Wassmund, and a son-in-law, Richard Kaser.
Leona was known for her beautiful flower gardens from which passers-by would ask to purchase flowers. As a result of being asked to arrange those flowers, she decided, in 1954, to attend Beland's Floral Design School in Lansing, Mich. Upon completion of the floral design course, she and her husband, Don, opened Donalyn Gardens and Greenhouse which later became Donalyn Florist. Leona remained active in the family business until it closed in 1982 at which time she went to work at Matzke Florist and continued working there until she was 90.
Leona was a member of Beulah Missionary Church. She enjoyed baking, gardening, singing and most of all praying for, loving and spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at Riverside Village and Hospice House for their love and support.
The family will receive friends two hours prior to the 1 p.m. funeral service Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at Beulah Missionary Church, 57595 Old C.R. 17, Goshen. Dr. Brent Poe will officiate. Burial will follow at Rice Cemetery.
Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
ELKHART — Leona Martin, 98, of Elkhart, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, July 6, 2012, while at the Elkhart Hospice House.
She was born Sept. 16, 1913, in Chicago. On June 27, 1937, she married the late Donald L. Martin in Elkhart.
Survivors include two daughters, Barbara (Dwight) Tapley of South Bend and Sarah Kaser of Elkhart; eight grandchildren, Kathy (John) Drew, Kristine (Eric) Kinsman, Kimberly Kaser, all of Elkhart, Holly Tapley of Surkhet, Nepal, Tammy (Brent) Howland of Mason City, Iowa, Debby (Nick) Helmkamp of Hudsonville, Mich., Rebekah (Keith) Pederson of Xenia, Ohio and David (Rachel) Tapley of Lima, Ohio; and her precious 17 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, August and Caroline Wassmund, and a son-in-law, Richard Kaser.
Leona was known for her beautiful flower gardens from which passers-by would ask to purchase flowers. As a result of being asked to arrange those flowers, she decided, in 1954, to attend Beland's Floral Design School in Lansing, Mich. Upon completion of the floral design course, she and her husband, Don, opened Donalyn Gardens and Greenhouse which later became Donalyn Florist. Leona remained active in the family business until it closed in 1982 at which time she went to work at Matzke Florist and continued working there until she was 90.
Leona was a member of Beulah Missionary Church. She enjoyed baking, gardening, singing and most of all praying for, loving and spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at Riverside Village and Hospice House for their love and support.
The family will receive friends two hours prior to the 1 p.m. funeral service Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at Beulah Missionary Church, 57595 Old C.R. 17, Goshen. Dr. Brent Poe will officiate. Burial will follow at Rice Cemetery.
Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leona Martin, please visit our flower store.
Services
Visitation
July
10
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Funeral Service
July
10
Starts at 1:00 pm