Wellman- Bernice C. Martin was born on October 6, 1923, in Wellman, Iowa, the daughter of LeRoy and Anna (Ossman) Kelley. She graduated from Wellman High School and attended normal training school. Bernice taught rural school North of Wellman, she worked for the Maple Crest Turkey Farm in Wellman, Oral B in Iowa City and later retired from the University of Iowa. In November of 1944, she was united in marriage to Earl K. Martin. She was a member of the Wellman Baptist Church, where she was very active. She enjoyed gardening and spending time with her grandchildren. Bernice died Tuesday, January 1, 2008, at Mercy Hospital, in Iowa City, Iowa following a brief illness. She lived 84 years, 2 months and 26 days.
Bernice is survived by a daughter Karen (Wilson) Guengerich of Washington; 3 sons: Bill Martin (friend Donna Beachy) of Wellman, Kenny (Rhonda) Martin of Washington and Michael Martin of Tuscon, AZ; 13 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; 2 brothers: Wayne Kelley of Williamsburg and Cecil Kelley of Wellman; and a sister Aline Hesseltine of Crawfordsville, IA. She was preceded by her parents, husband, a grandson, 3 brothers: Orval, Arlo and Merv and a sister Mildred.
Celebration of Life Service will be 10:30 AM on Monday, January 7, 2008, at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Wellman. Rev. Rich Pippert will officiate. Burial will be at the Wellman Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 PM to 8 PM on Sunday, January 6, 2008, at the funeral home, with the family present from 6 PM to 8 PM. A general memorial fund has been established. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.
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