Theresa Martens

Theresa Martens, 78, of Oakland died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006, at her son and daughter-in-law's home in West Point.

She was born Aug. 4, 1927, in Bamberg, Germany, to William and Wilhelmine (Stauch) Reindel. She married Allen C. Martens on Nov. 17, 1948, in Pender. She met Al while he was stationed in Germany during World War II. After he returned to the states, he sent for her. She arrived in Omaha from Frankfort, Germany, on Jan. 9, 1948. She became an American citizen on May 18, 1956. They started their lives together in Pender, where she was a homemaker. She also worked for a short time at the Pender Hospital. In 1961, they bought their home in Oakland, where they lived and worked together to establish and operate Al's Super Saver grocery store. Her husband preceded her in death March 23, 2002.

She was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. She was a member of the Oakland Golf Club.

Survivors include: two sons, Tim (and wife, Donna) Martens and Greg Martens, all of West Point; Nebraska; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She also was preceded in death by a sister and daughter-in-law.

The memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland with the Rev. Mark Eldal officiating. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in St. Mark's Cemetery in rural Pender.

A memorial has been established to the nursing staff at Oakland Memorial Hospital.

Palmquist-Pelan Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.