Service SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2003, 10:30 AM
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH MANNING, IOWA

Officiating PASTOR DANIEL VOGEL

Music "OH, THAT THE LORD WOULD GUIDE MY WAYS" "I AM BUT A STRANGER HERE" "LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH" CONGREGATION

CARLYS STRIBE, ORGANIST

Interment MANNING CEMETERY

Casketbearers RICK SLECHTA, RON SLECHTA, RODNEY SLECHTA, MIKE HELLER, KURT HELLER, JAMES GRIMES
Honorary Casketbearers SHAWNA AND JAMEY BARNETT
SR. AMN. MATT GRIMES

THE FAMILY WISHES TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR KINDNESS EVIDENCED IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED, AND INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR LUNCH AND FELLOWSHIP AT THE CHURCH FOLLOWING THE COMMITTAL SERVICE.

 Amanda Christina, daughter of Hugo A. and Anna M. (Waller) Grau, was born January 9, 1912, in Audubon County, Iowa. She attended rural schools in Audubon County, north of Manning, and near Aspinwall until 1924 when her family moved to Manilla where she completed her schooling. Amanda then worked for Dr. Soe in Manilla and various other places.

On April 20, 1934, Amanda was united in marriage with Walter Martens at the Lutheran Church in Denison. They farmed the Martens home place north of Manning until 1966 when they moved to Manning. Three children were born to this union.

During World War II, Amanda worked for Priebe and Sons Hatchery in Manning. When the Manning Plaza opened, she worked there as a cook. She then worked at Garst and Thomas Seed Corn Company in Coon Rapids for a couple of years before beginning to work at the Manning Senior Citizen Center in 1979 where she continued to work part-time for many years. Her husband died July 31, 1979.

Amanda was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary.

Amanda's enjoyed good health until her ninetieth year. When she no longer felt comfortable living alone, she entered the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in August of 2002, where she died on Wednesday, March 26, 2003, at the age of 91 years, 2 months and 17 days.

Preceding Amanda in death are her parents; husband; daughter Lorraine Slechta in 1998; grandson Royce Slechta in 1984 and two brothers and sisters-in-law Walter Grau and wife Helen and Hugo Grau and wife Janola.

She is survived by her two children Sherril Heller of Audubon and Dean Martens and wife Judi of Pleasant Hill; eight grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; son-in-law Larry Slechta of Denison; brother Ralph Grau and wife Theresa of Stockton, CA; two sisters Bernice Crouch of Irwin and Edna Mitzel and special friend Virgil Boysen of Manilla; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.