Obituary of Jane Marie Martin

Jane Marie Martin, age 57 of 719 18th. Avenue, Coralville died at her home on Tuesday, February 14, 2006. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 17, 2006, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with Chaplain Mary Johnston officiating. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial donations can be made in Jane’s memory to Goodwill Industries, Johnson County ARC, or Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent for Jane’s family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Jane Marie Martin was born November 11, 1948, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa the daughter of Donald M. and Vera Dayle (Martin) Martin. Jane along with her family lived in Mt Pleasant, Pleasant Grove, many years in North Liberty and in Coralville since 1984. She attended North Liberty Public School from 1956 – 57. Jane was one of the first students at “Nelson School” special education classes, initiated in 1959 by the Johnson County Association of Retarded Citizens (now The ARC), who led the struggle for an education for all children in this area. For over thirty-five years, Jane was employed by Goodwill Industries of Iowa City, first starting in 1966 in the old downtown Montgomery Wards building, and later after the new plant was opened on First Avenue. In 1992 she joined the staff at the Coralville store until her retirement on December 31, 2001 due to failing health. Goodwill was more than a job; it was her family and home away from home. She loved the environments, the people who worked with her and guided her. Everyone there knew of her strong work ethic, and what pride she took in the important tasks she did every day. She was recognized on numerous occasions for her work and attitude, including receiving the 2nd. Annual Goodwill Worker of the Year in 1967; Goodwill Work Adjustment Trainee in 1978, Goodwill Achiever of the year in 1996, and honored by the Johnson County Committee on the Handicapped in 1976. She was so proud of these honors as were those that loved and cared for her. She was a member of the former North Bend Church of God, and later the former New Beginning Church of God in North Liberty. Jane’s family includes her parents, Don and Dayle Martin of Coralville; sister, Gaye L. Janssen and her husband, Rick of Hampton, Iowa; brother , Danny L. Martin and his wife, Deb of Muscatine; three nephews, Jeremy Martin, Ryan Martin, and Todd Janssen; two nieces, Sonya (Martin) Garrett and Stephanie Janssen; great-nephews, Tristen and Zander Garrett; and a great-niece Elliana Brynn Garrett. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Lois and Joe Martin, and Paternal grandparents, Lorena and Erza Martin; two Aunts, Olive Alberhasky and Ruby Schmidt, two uncles, Walter “Bud” Martin and Harry Martin, and a special cousins, Randy and Linda Hudson. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Jane’s family and her services.