Martha Buck

    Martha Buck, 90, Our beautiful mother, grandma and great-grandma, was called Home Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the Heritage Care Center, Mason City, Iowa.  Her life will be celebrated Thursday, March 8, at 1:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Avenue North, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Diana Hoover officiating.  Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 7, 5-7 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 North 4th Street, Clear Lake, and one hour before the service on Thursday, at the church. 

Burial will follow in the Clear Lake Cemetery.   Family suggests memorials to the Martha Buck Memorial Fund.
    Martha was born June 30, 1921, to John and Maude (Olinger) Marsh. She was the oldest of three children. From her humble beginnings in Kentucky, through her school days filled with fun, laughter and lots of memories at the Surf Ballroom, she most treasured spending time with her family playing games, baking cookies for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and preparing homemade pickles and bread to share with everyone she loved.  Following graduation from Ventura High School in 1939, she married. As a farmer’s wife, she gardened and prepared many meals for farm hands.  These talents were shared in raising her family, providing special memories of fresh produce and fried chicken.  In those early years she gave birth to two daughters, Joan Jaspersen Saville and Judy Jaspersen Boehnke.
    A blind date introduced Martha to Robert Buck who became the love of her life.  They were married Dec. 21, 1973, and shared many fun times and travels until he passed away in 1998, the year of their silver wedding anniversary.  Martha lived in Clear Lake most of her life where she was employed at E. F. Johnson Radio Company, Sperry Corporation and Unisys Computer Co.  She was a member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church and the V.F.W. Women’s Auxiliary.
    Immediate family surviving Martha include her daughter, Judy Boehnke and spouse, Lewis; son-in-law, Lloyd Saville and spouse, Paulette; grandchildren, Kevin Saville (Terri), Matthew Boehnke (Alicia), Melissa Smythe (Stephen), Ryan Boehnke, Chad Saville (Jamie) and Cory Saville; great-grandchildren, Joshua Smythe, Talia Saville, Abbey Saville, Faith Smythe, Eric Boehnke, Emily Boehnke, Ashlyn Saville and Izzy Saville; brother, Dale Marsh (Arline); several nieces and nephews; four stepsons and their children. 
    She was preceded in death by daughter, Joan Saville; husband, Robert; parents and grandparents; brother, Albert Marsh; great-grandson, Zachary Caleb Smythe.
    Martha’s legacy to her adoring family and many friends is to love one another unconditionally, as she loved us.  This legacy of love was celebrated in June at her 90th birthday party where she was in the midst of her family and friends.  Surrounded by 90 roses, she was glowing and enjoyed sharing wonderful memories with everyone there.  This legacy of love will be cherished by her family and friends forever.