Millie Martin

Mildred “Millie” MARTIN, 94, of Kansas City, MO, died September 11, 2019. Rosary and Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m., and Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Monday, September 16 at St. Regis Catholic Church; Burial at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, KCMO. Please consider a donation to Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St Joseph, 4001 Blue Pkwy, Suite 250, KCMO 64130 or Kansas City Hospice Foundation, 1500 Meadow Lake Pkwy, Suite 200, KCMO 64114.

Millie was born March 7, 1925 in Greeley, Kansas to Philip Lickteig and Rose (Oswald) Lickteig. We believe Millie was born in historic Gerth Cabin outside of Greeley. Rose and Philip eventually moved to a farm south of Greeley, where they would raise Millie and her three sisters, Thelma, Margie, and Annabelle. Millie attended St. John’s Elementary School, walking and some days riding a draft horse a mile to school and back. Millie attended Greeley High School for two years, then her junior year at Ursuline Academy in Paola, and returning to graduate at Greeley High. Following high school, she moved to Kansas City, where she felt she could better pursue her goals. Millie moved into a boarding house and secured a job in the payroll department at Standard Steel, where she worked for many years. She was a practicing Catholic and participated in the Kansas City Catholic Adult Social Club.

In 1957 on a Sunday afternoon, Millie went to a dance at the Playmore Ballroom at 31st and Main, sponsored by the Catholic Adult Social Club. When the dance was over, a fellow named Bernie Martin asked her if she wanted to join him and some friends for bite to eat and a drink at a little restaurant out at Lake Lotawana. Millie accepted, had a nice time, and then Bernie kind of drifted away, clinging to the single life. Not long after the dance and Lake Lotawana, Millie left for a trip to California to visit her sister Thelma. When she returned to Kansas City, she stepped off the train and was surprised to see Bernie waiting for her. From there the relationship blossomed, and they got married on April 19, 1958.

Children followed, first Ann, then Danny, and then Lisa. When Ann came, Millie quit her job and put all her effort to being a mother and homemaker. They lived at 94th and Walnut for few years, and in 1965 move to 9218 Elm and joined St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church. St. Regis was a brand new parish, and they had to celebrate Mass in an old paint shop at Loma Vista Shopping Center while the church was being built. Millie and Bernie were both active in the parish. Millie belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society, served as a den mother for the Cub Scout troop, volunteered as a recess supervisor at St. Regis Grade School, co-organized the O’Hara Cellar to Attic Sale, and the fruit sale. For many years she helped provide food for funeral luncheons.

Millie brought her farm knowledge to the city, and she and Bernie raised a big garden every year. They also at various times had cows, ponies, and horses to take care of. Millie loved being outside among the birds and plants, and she loved to cook. The family ate dinner together every night and breakfast every morning. She passed along her love of food and cooking to her three children. Millie was a devoted mother. She created a warm and loving environment for her children. She was a loving wife, supporting Bernie in his work and making time for regular dates and outings together. During all these years, Millie remained close to her sisters, visiting them often and staying in regular contact by phone. Their lives were always entwined.

When Bernie retired, they were able to travel. They took a number of memorable trips with Millie’s sister Thelma Emerson and her husband Jesse Emerson. The four of them took two cruises on the Mississippi, a journey to Europe, an Alaskan cruise, and a trip to Maryknoll, New York to visit their aunts. Bernie and Millie also traveled to Italy to meet Bernie’s relatives. Retirement also allowed Bernie to cultivate an acre of wine grapes and to make his own wine. He relied on Millie for help and support but especially for her subtle palate. She tasted every wine at various stages and gave crucial feedback during the winemaking process. As time went on, their children began to get married and have children of their own, giving Millie and Bernie 9 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Their home was always open to the family, and they routinely hosted holiday gatherings, birthdays, graduations, and life events with children playing in the yard and exploring the vineyard and the family gathering around good food prepared with skill and love.

After knee and hip replacements and the challenges of age, the three acres got to be too much work, so Millie and Bernie moved to Villa Ventura Retirement Community. They made new friends and continued to routinely spend time with their children to celebrate holidays with the full family. Bernie passed away on January 24, 2018 and Millie continued to live at Villa Ventura until her death.

Bernie died peacefully at home at the age of 94. After a brief battle with infection, Millie passed away with her three children around her, feeling the love of family and friends. The day before she went into the hospital, she had a lovely dinner with family, sitting outside, enjoying a glass of wine.

Millie was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Annabelle Scheckel and Margie Sampson, and her beloved husband Bernie. She is survived by her children Ann Zack and husband Mark, Dan Martin and his fiancée Rita Shelton and Lisa Smith and her husband Kam. She has nine grandchildren, Justin Zack, Joey Martin, John Martin, Phil Martin, Elizabeth Savage, Rachel Smith, Bryan Zack, Eric Smith, and Caroline Smith, and great-grandchild Isabella Martin. She also leaves her beloved sister Thelma Emerson. We will truly miss her.