Martha Christina Steinke

Martha Christina (Merritt) Steinke, 78, 67 S. Meadow Lane, Sidney, Ohio was brought into this world on a cold winter day in Leipsic, Ohio on January 2, 1933 the daughter of Franklin Merritt and Christina (Drummelsmith) Siefker Merritt and they are deceased. Jesus took her home to be with the rest of her family on January 27, 2011. She will sadly be missed by all who new and loved her. She had a big heart even though God gave her a small body; she never let her size stand in her way. Being the youngest child of older parents she grew up with her nieces and nephews, she didn't get to know her siblings until later in life. She was very close to her brothers. Even though she was born during the Depression she never did without, her family moved to Lima when she was about 10 years old and she lived there until she got married. Unfortunately, she was never able to graduate due to many childhood illnesses and she was kept back in school. When she turned 16, she had to quite school and go to work to help her mom and dad out. Martha was that way her whole life, always helping and doing for others. She did not like to ask to help. On May 30, 1964 she married Donald Louis Steinke in Lima, Ohio and they moved to Sidney, Ohio where Donald's work was. Donald survives in Sidney. She was able to be a stay at home mom to their two children, Mark J. of Sidney and Theresa E. (Richard) Winemiller of Botkins. Besides her husband and two children, she leaves behind brother-in-laws, Leo Steinke of Sidney; Albin Steinke of Wapakoneta; Gene and wife Alice of Wapakoneta; sister-in-laws, Ferdonia Staley of Sidney, and Virginia and husband Richard Burden of Botkins. Nieces, Bernadette Schoonover, Betty Kennedy, Marie Hollar of Lima. Mary Anne (Paul) Elking of Celina; Toni (Doug) Shema of Celina, that were like sisters to her and nephews, Jim Kennerson of Lima, Jim Bob (Cathy) Darnell of Batavia, Ohio, that were like little brothers to her. Besides Godchildren, many more nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, and great great nephew and nieces. This past summer her family grew bigger as she gained five step-grandchildren and eight step-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her adopted family the Fitzgeralds, Deb, Andy, Karen, Jesse, Asa, Alyssa, and Jared. Waiting for her at the Pearly Gates besides her parents will be her brothers and wife's, Joseph and Bernice Siefker, Fred and Lois Siefker, sisters Elizabeth and Speed Darnell, Mary Curan, Dora Rice, and Alice Kiplinger plus three infant brothers and sisters and one nephew and two nieces and great nephew and great nieces. All of them loved Aunt Martha and her cookies. She will be sadly missed by all the knew and loved her. She had worked as a nurse's aide at St. Rita's Hospital in the nursery many years ago. While her children were in school she did work part-time outside the home. She was a noon supervisor at Emerson Elementary School in Sidney for eight years before being laid off due to budget cuts. She also was a newspaper carrier for the Sidney Daily News for many years before retiring in 1999. Her biggest joys in life were sewing and baking. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 10:30 AM at Holy Angels Catholic Church with Rev. Jason Bedel. Burial will follow at Shelby Memory Gardens, Sidney. Friends may call at Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral Home in Sidney on Monday, January 31, 2011 from 4-8 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association of Ohio, P.O. Box 415, Sandusky, Ohio 44871-0415. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed to the Steinke family on Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral Home's web site at: www.salm-mcgillandtangemanfh.com

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