Martha Walters

Martha S. Walters, 90, of Grundy Center, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Creekside Living in Grundy Center.

A memorial service was held Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center. Inurnment was at Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Martha was born on March 19, 1933, in Ackley, the daughter of Fred and Sobena “Bena” (Dirksen) Wubbena, both German immigrants. She attended rural school in Ackley and did not speak English until she began school. Martha was united in marriage to Kenny Walters on May 16, 1958, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They moved to Buck Grove and Kenny farmed in rural Grundy County until 1974 when they settled in Grundy Center. The couple welcomed four children into their family.

Martha was a hard-working farmers wife for many years and then worked over 25 years as a CNA at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care Unit, from which she retired. Martha was a long-time member of Bethany Presbyterian Church. She was an excellent cook and baker and her specialty was making her rhubarb crisp for Les. In her retirement she enjoyed traveling with Kenny. They took a yearly trip to the Sydney Rodeo in southwest Iowa and many trips to Branson, Missouri. She was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and last year fulfilled her life-long dream of attending a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. She loved playing cards and was a member of a ladies card group in her neighborhood and later at Arlington Place. However, her true joy in life came from spending time with her family. She will be missed and long remembered.

Martha is survived by her children Karen (Dean) Shuey, Becky (John) Billerbeck, Les (Lisa) Walters and Neal (Michelle) Walters; grandchildren Jodi, Zach, Douglas, Brian, Kassie, Annastasia, Jacob and Aidan; 12 great-grandchildren and one on the way; one great-great-grandchild and one on the way; many nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law Lena Wubbena.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Kenny Walters; siblings Alvin Wubbena, Dorothy Hansen, Meint Wubbena, Lorraine Brahm and Lawrence Wubbena; great-grandchildren Isaiah and Briella Tripp; nephew David Patterson; niece Pamela Mudderman; sister-in-law Beverly Patterson; and brother-in-law Duane Patterson.