Verla was the first born to John T. and Ida Belle (Lester) Schieffer on October 16, 1937. She married Stanley E. Martinek in January 31, 1953 and were married for 61 years. They settled in Hawk Point MO where Stanley and Verla were blessed with seven children.
Verla is survived by her brother Tommy Dean and wife Janelle Schieffer of Paris, TN, all her children, Stephen and Lana Martinek of Chillicothe, IL, Rose and Johnnie Blair of Rolla, MO, Ken and Sharon Martinek of Mount Vernon, IL, Kathy and Van Smith of Hawk Point, MO, Beverly and Kerry Fox of Tampa, FL, Ted and Debbie Martinek of Troy, MO, and Gina and Nathan Rutledge of Tampa, FL. She was a grandmother to 25 and a great grandmother to 47.
Verla is preceded in death by her husband, Stanley; her parents; two sisters, and 1 grandchild.
Verla married young and did not get to finish high school, yet education was very important to her. She invested in several quality sets of encyclopedias and dictionaries so that her children (and their friends) could do well in school and explore the world. Verla earned her GED when she was 45 inspiring all her children not to give up on their dreams. She was proud that she raised 7 individual children who embraced their singular talents and were not afraid of hard work.
Verla was a life-long member of St Mary’s Catholic Church in Hawk Point. She had been a member of the Ladies Alter Sodality, made meals for funerals, sang in the choir, as well as many other charitable activities. Verla was mother to her children but later worked as a home care provider. Verla loved to travel. Stanley & her traveled to Canada, Mexico, and Santa Domingo. She would visit their children wherever they might be and was no stranger to anyone. Often, she would be found talking to someone in a checkout line as if they were lifelong friends.
For the last 3 years, Verla would split her time between Missouri and Florida, where her 2 youngest daughters resided. Friends in Tampa have shared that “she was the darling of every neighborhood party” and “our mother was a blessing”.
Due to the serious health condition of her daughter, Beverly, who was also injured in the accident, funeral arrangements are pending. There will be an intimate memorial in Florida where she lived with her daughter Gina, and a funeral mass and burial in Hawk Point MO this spring.
Verla was a breast cancer survivor. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society.
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