Martha "Marty" Wartick

1948 - 2025

Martha "Marty" Wartick

December 20, 1948 - June 20, 2025

Martha "Marty" Lorraine (Walpole) Wartick, 76, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, passed away quietly and comfortably on June 20, 2025, at The Suites at Western Home Communities due to complications from Parkinson's Disease. Marty was born on December 20, 1948, in Kansas City, Kansas. She was the eldest daughter of Myra and H.T. "Pepper" Walpole.

Marty grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and in 1966 she was a member of the first graduating class of Oak Park High School. She went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Pittsburg State University and a master's degree as well as a Ph.D. from Penn State. After high school and before going to college, Marty worked primarily as a legal secretary, supporting her husband through his education. In 1978, she started her own college studies and after finishing her doctoral work in 1990, she became a member of the faculties of the University of Missouri-St. Louis for eight years and the University of Northern lowa (UNI) for 18 years. For 10 of her years at UNI, she served as the Head of the Accounting Department where she worked to develop and support a strong commitment to both teaching and research. Marty was well known as an engaging teacher. Her research focused on the behavioral analysis of taxation, and she made several contributions to the body of knowledge in that area. Professionally, she was very active in the American Taxation Association. In 2019-20, Marty was inducted into the Women of UNI Business Hall of Fame.

Marty was a caring and loving mother to her two sons, and both boys knew that if they wanted something somewhat "questionable," they should start with their mom. Marty was an avid reader and she could devour more than a couple of books each week. She enjoyed books ranging from historical novels to non-fiction of various types, but she especially loved biographies. Marty also loved traveling. She spent her 25th wedding anniversary with her husband, Steve, in London. On their 35th anniversary, together with long time friends, Marty and Steve renewed their vows at an Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas. For their 50th anniversary, they traveled to Hawaii with their sons and daughters-in-law. Marty was an enthusiastic supporter of UNI Men's Basketball and enjoyed trips to St. Thomas, Cancun and elsewhere to watch the Panthers play. She is also one of the few people to have both snow skied in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State and water skied on Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. Still, Hawaii, which she first visited with her family when she was in her early teens, was always her favorite place to vacation.

Marty will be remembered as a kind, compassionate, intelligent, authentic person. She is preceded in death by her parents and a sister (Linda Garza). She is survived by her husband, Steve, of 57 years; by a sister (Suzi Colbert); by two sons, Ryan and Joe (Jennifer); by four grandsons (Colin, Grant, Leo, and Nolan); and by many loving nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. August 2, 2025, at Richardson Funeral Service in Cedar Falls with inurnment following in the columbarium at Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, August 1st, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, then or now, family and friends are invited to send contributions in Marty's name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Online condolences at www.richardsonfuneralservice.com.