Martha “Martie” D. Obenland

Martha "Martie" D. (Anderson) Obenland passed away on January 24, 2018 at the age of 97.  She was preceded in death by her husband Bob and their son Charles, her parents Isadore and Elizabeth Anderson, her sisters Betty, Ruth, Jean, Ruby, Alice and Suzie and brother Andy.  She is survived by her son David and his wife Brenda, Charles wife Ina, her granddaughter Jennifer and her great-grandson Vonnell.

Martie was the 5th of 8 children born to Dr. Isadore Anderson and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of an attorney.  Elizabeth was a poet and early community advocate.  Their small home overflowed with love and children, ideals and laughter.  Growing up during the Great Depression, Martie found happiness spending time with family and friends.  She was a great listener, conversationalist, confidant and advisor.  She carried these people skills with her throughout her life.  From the moment anyone met her they knew she was something special and wanted to be part of her world.

Martie began the wonderful partnership that was her 64-year marriage to Bob Obenland when they met while attending Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburgh, KS.  They married and following the war set up their household in Kansas City.  Together they took great joy in raising their sons David and Chuck regaling us all with many hilarious tales of their exploits.  They loved and were extremely proud of their boys.

After her mother passed, she moved back into her childhood home to care for her father.  This must have been the moment when Martie, the middle child, assumed her role as family matriarch.  From then on, she hosted all the large family’s gatherings.  She would host fantastic parties, in her 1950's basement rec. room.  Her Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations were filled with love and family.  She would start setting up for events days in advance, everything had to be just right.  We had many wonderful times in that basement.  Regardless of the menu or occasion, an enormous bowl of popcorn was the centerpiece on the table.  This carried on a quirky family tradition that began with an old oak table in her childhood home, the same table her father had used to perform numerous minor surgeries and to give inoculations to his pensive children and grandchildren as they stood in line awaiting their turn with the needle.

Martie loved going on long walks and enjoyed stopping to chat with her neighbors all along the way.  She knew the scoop on the entire neighborhood because everyone was comfortable talking to her.  She was often greeted with an enthusiastic, "Here comes the Gazette!" because she knew and cared for everyone.

In her 80’s, she was surprised by minor health issues. “Every morning,” she said “I look in the mirror and say ‘ok, what sonofabitchin thing is going to break today?'”  Then she’d laugh and her eyes twinkled.  Adversity was best met with humor.

They took her drivers’ license away when she was 91.  From a dead stop, she had turned into fast-moving traffic. “The crash was not my fault," she declared. “They pinned it on me just because I’m old.” She was devastated.  A month or so later, her son bought her an adult sized tricycle, and she was on the road again.  This to the delight of grocery clerks, pharmacy clerks and all of her new friends along her path.

Everyone loved this woman.  At the liquor store, she was greeted by name, and the employees scampered to get her favorite booze without her having to utter a word.  The wonderful waitress at Jazz made certain she got a special off-the-menu bespoke grilled cheese sandwich whenever she visited.  She fancied herself a beer aficionado and nothing beat a cold Coors Lite. The tellers at her bank treated her with uncommon respect and took extra care to ensure that her interests were safeguarded. Entering Steak N Shake with her was like walking into an episode of "Cheers" because everyone knew her name and would shout "Hi Martie!" as we entered.

The staff at Bickford all understood that she was a kind, funny, honest, strong, exceptional human being and they loved her.

Anita, child of her dear friend Lilian and her neighbor, Sherry, both spent countless hours attending to Martie, sharing meals and conversation with her over the course of many years.  All because they realized that she was an incredibly unique and charismatic person.

Martie was an avid reader. She delighted in growing enormous sunflowers.  She never forgot to feed the birds.  She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.  Martie is the last of the Andersons of 723 W 45th Street in Kansas City, Missouri.  She lived longer than any of them.

Martie never really said goodbye to anyone, so we leave her with the parting words she said to all of us so often: "Know we love you" and "Be Cool".

A memorial service will be held at Amos Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS on Sunday,  January 28, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.  A burial service will follow at Union Cemetery, 227 E 28 Terrace, Kansas City, MO.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to:

Cancer Research Institute

55 Broadway

Suite 1802

New York, NY 10006

www.cancerresearch.org