Joann Alfretta Martens

JOANN ALFRETTA (HENNAGER) MARTENS was born on December 15, 1929 to Alfred and Alice (Zylstra) Hennager in Springfield, Oregon. Her father passed away while her mother was pregnant and after JoAnn’s birth the family moved to Flandreau, South Dakota. She grew up and attended school in Flandreau. After her education she worked at the Crystal Theater in Flandreau. On February 9, 1949 she was united in marriage to John “Johnny” Martens. Following their marriage the couple moved to Pipestone, Minnesota. She worked at Feckers and then at Sack’s Grocery Store starting in 1951. Wherever the store went and whoever owned it, JoAnn followed and worked at each place. She retired from Hank’s Foods in 2007. She lived at home until October of 2010 when she moved into the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone. She passed away there on Friday, January 22, 2016 at the age of 86 years, one month, and seven days.

JoAnn was a member of Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone. She enjoyed camping, bingo, and playing pinochle, or any other card game. She loved animals but most of all loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always said they were “mine.” She treasured them. She was a selfless woman who always put others before herself.

JoAnn is lovingly remembered by her four children, Gregory (Jaqueline) Martens of Woodstock, Minnesota, Patricia (Dwayne) Christoffels of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Douglas Martens of Pipestone, and Virginia (Brett Holt) Olberding of Pipestone; 15 grandchildren, John (Nicole) Martens, Melissa (Aaron) Burnett, Michael (Amy) Christoffels, Eric (Angela) Christoffels, Jennifer (Eric) Post, Kylee Christoffels, Bill (Jennifer) Wiese, Brooke Martens, Taylor Martens, Matt Martens, Alison (Nick Winter) Olberding, Josh (Jennifer Quincey) Olberding, Amanda Olberding, Holly Olberding; 25 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Carole Martens of Nicollet, Minnesota, Gerri Carmody of Pipestone, Thel Hennager of Rapid City, South Dakota; brother-in-law, Lee Kjelland of Henderson, Nevada; and many nieces and nephews.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband, John; parents, Alice and Alfred; brothers, Russell, Francis, and Duane Hennager; sisters, Joyce Kjelland and Betty Scofield; and a great-grandson, Jacob Christoffels.