Martha A. Herrmann

Martha A. Herrmann, age 90, was born June 10, 1930 in Cawker City, Kansas and passed away January 17, 2021 at the Republic County Hospital, Belleville, Kansas.

She was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Irene (Slipke) Carl. Martha’s grandfather Theodore Carl and his wife Angela Lorig immigrated from Godendorf, Germany in 1883.  They purchased a farm near Waconda Springs three miles east of Cawker City in an area now covered by the Waconda Reservoir. After her grandfather’s death in 1918 Martha’s father Nick ran the farm and that is where she was raised with her 8 brothers and sisters.

Martha graduated from Cawker City High School in 1949 and on June 5, 1949 she was married to Howard R. Herrmann in Franklin, Nebraska.  They were married for nearly 70 years and together they raised two sons Michael and Wayne.

In 1968, the family moved to Mankato where Martha was a member St Theresa’s Catholic Church and played an active role in the St. Theresa’s Guild.  In 1970 she went to work for Boogaarts Grocery.  In 1982 she purchased the Dreiling’s Department Store and for almost 15 years she operated it as Martha’s Clothing.  Her kindness and outstanding customer service to the community was the hallmark of her success.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Howard; brothers Nicholas Carl, Eugene Carl, and Richard Carl; sister Rose Mary Gravatt. She is survived by sons Michael and wife Erika of Columbia, South Carolina and Wayne of Wichita, Kansas; grandchildren Ryan Fickle, Bryan Herrmann, Theresa Herrmann, and Troy Herrmann; two great-grandchildren Braydon Blevins and Piper Simmonds; brothers Robert Carl of Tulare, CA and Edward Carl of Downs, and sisters Margaret Komp of Indianapolis, IN and Loretta Brand of Wichita.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021 from 1-8 pm at the Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas.

The Mass of Christian burial will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 22, 2021 at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Mankato, Kansas with Father Soosai Rathinam officiating . Graveside services will follow in the St. Peter and St. Paul Cemetery, Cawker City, Kansas.

Online condolences can be left at www.melbymortuary.com.  Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.