Martha L. Hummel

Martha Hummel was born March 24, 1909 on her parents’ farm west of Clarks, Nebraska to William and Anna Goerl Sandeman. She passed away on May, 12, 2009 in Mission, Kansas. Martha attended District 21 rural school, walking to school through the fields behind the family farm. When she was age 12, her older brother Willis, age 18, died unexpectedly. Two years later her family built and moved into a new home in nearby Central City. There she graduated in 1928 from Central City High School. Following graduation she was employed as a sales clerk in a local variety store. It was then she met her future husband Clarence Hummel who worked in a local grocery.

The couple married June 30, 1930. They bought the grocery store and re-named it the “C. and Hummel Grocery.” In 1933 they built a new home and soon thereafter welcomed their sons John and Robert. Martha had become a full time mother and housewife.

Martha and her husband were active in the Presbyterian Church as sponsors of a youth group and as Sunday school teachers. Together they enjoyed playing bridge for many years with their friends. The family enjoyed several cross-country automobile trips and many happy hours spent at their cabin on the Platte River at Riverside Park.

Her husband Clarence died in 1967 following a long illness with cancer. Martha remained in the family home until 2000 when she moved to an independent living retirement village in Omaha Nebraska. There she continued her love for bridge and built a new and long list of good friends. Finally, in 2004 her arthritic hands caused her retirement from a 75 year run of bridge playing. In February, 2007 she moved into assisted living quarters in Mission, (Kansas City) Kansas. On March 24, 2009 many of her family and friends joined Martha in celebrating her 100th birthday.

Martha Hummel is survived by a son John of Austin, Texas: daughter-in-law Betty (Mrs. Robert Hummel) of Roeland Park, Kansas, and four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Will, husband Clarence, granddaughter Gretchen in 1994, daughter-in-law Janet (Mrs. John Hummel) in 1998 and son Robert in 2005.

Memorial Visitation and Graveside Service

Memorial visitation will be 2-4:00 p.m. Friday, May 15, 2009 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee.

Graveside Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the Central City, Nebraska Cemetery with the Rev. Dough McHargue of the Central City Presbyterian Church officiating.