Martha H. Niehaus, 89, of Grundy Center, Iowa, died Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at Westbrook Acres Nursing Home in Gladbrook, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., on Saturday, June 30, 2007, at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center, Iowa, with Pastor Tom Bower officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center, Iowa. Visitation will be Friday, June 29, 2007, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. A memorial fund has been established.
Martha was born August 3, 1917, at home in Pleasant Valley Township, rural Fern, Iowa, the daughter of Heit and Etta (Meester) Peters. Martha attended rural country school in Grundy County. On January 14, 1943, Martha was united in marriage to John D. Niehaus Jr., at Lincoln Center Christian Reformed Church, rural Grundy Center. Martha and her husband farmed in Grundy County for thirty-five years, retiring in 1978. When they retired off of the farm, Martha and her husband moved to Grundy Center. Martha?s husband John died on June 14, 1994, and she continued to make Grundy Center her home. Martha was a lifelong member of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center, and also a lifelong resident of Grundy County. She loved to plant her vegetable garden as well as flowers. Martha also enjoyed making many macramAC. purses.
She is survived by her three sons- Michael Niehaus of Waterloo, Iowa; Steven Niehaus of Monticello, Iowa; James Niehaus of Fort Dodge, Iowa;
nine grandchildren-Dawn Munden and her husband Jeremy; Michele Dew and her husband Jason; Matthew Niehaus and his wife Julia; Crystal Niehaus and her fiancAC. Jesse Huisman; Jamie Stringer and her husband Anthony; Rebecca Niehaus; Keely Decker and her husband Matthew; Joseph Niehaus; Joshua Niehaus and his wife Leslie; and five great-grandchildren; one half sister Esther Dickens; three step-sisters-Jennie Mae Janssen and her husband Delmer; Wilma Schultz; Marlys Arends; and two step-brothers-Hilko Viet and his wife Bernice; and Bernie Viet and his wife Norma.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John D. Niehaus Jr., one brother Henry Peters; and three sisters Etta DeBeer, Tena Essman, and Minnie Blohm; and one stepsister Frances Flessner.