Gladys Martens

Gladys Ida Petri was born July 15, 1908 to Charley and Mary Petri of Adair. She was baptized September 6, 1908 at St. John’s Lutheran Church north of Adair. The family moved to Dexter when she was age 3. Gladys was confirmed June 29, 1923 at Zion Lutheran Church and her confirmation verse was Psalm 37: 5 ‘Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him and he shall bring it to pass.’ Gladys graduated from Dexter High School and then attended Drake University. She taught school for eleven years. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1997; and two sisters, Clara Weisbrod and Cora Martens. In 1939 she was united in marriage to Grant J. Martens. Following their marriage they moved to a farm in Madison County. They were members of the Trinity Lutheran Church near Van Meter and Gladys taught Sunday School there for many years. The first Bible School at Trinity was started in 1947 and she also participated as a teacher in this church activity. She was also a member of the Ladies Aid and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. She served as a member of the district board of the L.W.M.L. Gladys is survived by several nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Visitation: 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church, near Van Meter. Service: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church, near Van Meter. Memorial: Memorials may be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church and Middle River Hospice of Winterset.