Gerald John Martin

Gerald John Martin, the son of Walter D. and Clara (Strittmatter) Martin, was born October 15, 1922, at his parents’ home near Walnut, Iowa and died July 26, 2017, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 9 months, and 11 days.
Gerald was baptized and confirmed at the Catholic Church in Walnut, Iowa. He attended rural schools near Walnut and the Walnut High School. Gerald then helped operate the family farm.
On January 18, 1944, he was united in marriage to Mildred Mary Murray at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca, Iowa. They were blessed with three children John, Carla, and Carol. They operated farms near Walnut, Iowa, Marne, Iowa, and Oakland, Iowa before purchasing their farm southeast of Brayton, Iowa. They grew row crops, hay, and raised livestock. Later while still farming Gerald opened a repair shop where he repaired tractors, autos, and just about anything with an engine. They retired from farming and moved into Brayton, Iowa. Mildred died May 15, 2010. Gerald lived at home until he moved to the Exira Care Center on October 16, 2012.
Gerald was a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, Iowa, served on the church council, and was on the building committee which built the Holy Trinity Hall next to the Church. Gerald was a member of the Brayton Town Council and was a member of the Brayton Development Corporation when they constructed the new Town Hall. During retirement he also enjoyed woodworking.
Preceding him in death in addition to his wife Mildred, was his son-in-law Wayne Janssen; his grandson Billie Dauma, Jr.; his great grandson Brandon Martin; his parents; his brother and sister Carl and wife Teresa Martin and Mary and husband Harold Hansen; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Vernon and wife Ruth Murray and Dorothy and husband Darrell Bauerkemper; and his nephews Stan Matthies and Bill Bauerkemper.
Survivors include his children John (Roger) and wife Barb Martin of Madrid, Iowa, Carla (Jeanie) Janssen of Ohatchee, Alabama, and Carol and husband Dean Schwab of Brayton, Iowa; 6 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren; his sister-in-law Gertrude and husband Fred Matthies of Walnut, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family will gather with friends on Sunday evening, July 30, 2017, at 5:00 P.M. with a Scripture Service at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Antony Mathew on Monday morning July 31, 2017, at 10:30 A.M. at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira. Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Walnut, Iowa at 2:00 P.M. The casket bearers will be Doug Matthies, Don Bauerkemper, Pat Martin, Mike Martin, Ron Hansen, and Jerry Hansen.