Harold Marti

Harold B. Marti, 87, of rural Lansing, IA, died Monday, August 9, 2021, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, IA. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 14th, at 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church fellowship hall in Waukon with Pastor Rick Vis officiating. Burial will be at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 AM until the time of services on Saturday at the church fellowship hall. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Lansing Ridge Cemetery, or Trees Forever.

Harold Benjamin Marti was born on February 13, 1934, in Waukon, IA, the son of Benjamin and Flora (Schellhammer) Marti. He was baptized at the Lansing Ridge Presbyterian Church, attended Lycurgus School in rural Waukon through 8 ^th grade, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1952.

On November 13, 1954, he married Shirley Gramlich at the Lansing Methodist Church. He worked as a mechanic for Lenz and Underwood before following his desire to farm. He and Shirley rented land in Ludlow Township, Waukon, where they started their family and made many lifelong friends. In 1962, they moved to the Marti homestead near Churchtown, becoming the fourth generation to farm the land.

An early adapter of conservation practices while expanding the farm, Harold received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award in 1969. In addition to being a dairy farmer, he was a gifted mechanic, carpenter, and craftsman, often found fixing farm equipment or making improvements on the farm including solely building an addition onto their home. Many wrought iron railings he made still decorate churches, front porches, and mailboxes throughout Allamakee County and Northeast Iowa.

Harold took great pride in his Swiss heritage, reflected by the cowbell hanging in the kitchen to the flag painted on the barn. He and Shirley hosted an exchange student, Bernhard Wegmueller, who helped trace the family lineage back nearly 500 years to Engi, Switzerland.  Bernhard, his wife Jacqueline, and their families added much to Harold's life and led to many Swiss friendships.

Harold's broad interests in photography, gardening, hunting, antique autos, and travel led to hours of entertainment with the family gathered around the projector screen. Favorite spots included Colorado and Switzerland, where he made several trips with family and friends. He and Shirley also enjoyed discovering local places, often driving out of the way a bit to try something new. He was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church serving as an elder, deacon, and trustee. A music lover, he sang as a barbershopper and in the church choir.

In later years, you could find Harold sitting on his swing overlooking the farm yard, where he planted many varieties of trees and flowers. He likely planted thousands in his lifetime, including the apple trees which provided bounty for an annual Marti Applefest where family, friends, and neighbors would gather.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Shirley; their four children: Marcia (Mike) Haning of Madison, WI, Marla McCullough (William Bruce) of Middleton, WI, Michael (Christine) Marti of Story City, IA, and Monte (Mollie) Marti of Cedar Rapids, IA; nine grandchildren: Marin Haning (Chris Kratochwill), Max (Brittany) Haning, Sacha McCullough, Hannah Marti, Jacob (Karly Hermanson) Marti, Ethan (Megan) Marti, and Nate, Alaina, and Erin Marti; and four great-grandchildren: Lilly, Arro, Mazara, and Cerys.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ben and Flora Marti and his sister and her husband Arlene and Willard Kerndt.

Harold Marti loved God, his family, his country, and he loved being on the farm. In his last year of life, he moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Waukon for health reasons, where he received great care. We will miss seeing you at the farm, Dad (Grandpa Harold).

Casketbearers are Brad Kerndt, Dean Schellhammer, Jerry Borseth, Neal Steiber, and Michael and Monte Marti.