Vera Sally (Hinz) Martens, Daughter of Louis and Johanna Ruhde Hinz, was born February 22, 1917 on a farm south of Manning, Iowa. She was raised in the rural Manning area.

On June 6, 1940, Vera married Louie William Martens at Harlan, Iowa. Vera and Louie are best remembered as working and running restaurants in several southwest Iowa towns, including the 2X4 Cafe in Atlantic. Following Louie's death in 1973, Vera cooked at Van's Chat and Chew in Atlantic, worked at Claremar Fabrics, and then at the Cass County Memorial Hospital until her retirement.

She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Atlantic BPO Does, Drove #23.

Vera was an avid crafter, and enjoyed crocheting, flowers, collecting owls, and salt and pepper shakers. She was especially dedicated to her grandchildren.

Preceding Vera in death were her parents; her husband, Louie; three sisters, Wilda David, Eldora Hagge, and Bernice Graves; one brother, Delbert Hinz; five brothers-in-law, LeRoy Martens, Alfred David, Melvin Hagge, Harold Martens and his wife, Oda, and George Graves; a sister-in-law, Helen Christianson and her husband, Jerry.

Vera, 86, passed away Wednesday, February 4, 2004 at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Vera is survived by four sons and a daughter, Larry and his wife, Elaine Martens, Atlantic, Garry and his wife, Lynda Martens of Atlantic, Mary and her husband, Joe Nelsen of Anita, Iowa, Terry and his wife, Linda Martens of Lees Summit, and Kerry and his wife, Tammie of Springfield, Missouri; fourteen grandchildren, Rodney and his wife Shelly Martens of Livermore, California, Tanya Martens of Des Moines, Iowa, Master-Sergeant Bradley Martens of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Corey and his wife, Karla Martens of Wichita, Kansas, Kurt and his wife, Jocie Martens of Des Moines, Iowa, Jeff and Kim Nelsen of Knierim, Iowa, Rebecca Nelsen of Des Moines, Iowa, Doug Martens of Lees Summit, Missouri, Dean Martens of Independence, Missouri, Christy and her husband Eric Stout of Lees Summit, Missouri, Scott and his wife, Nicole Martens of Springfield, Missouri, Jennifer and her husband, Matt Marksmiller of Springfield, Missouri, Bryan Martens of Springfield, Missouri, Cindy and her husband, Brian Clere of Arkansas; ten great-grandchildren, Maggie, Sydney, and Chloe Martens, Emma Nelsen. Taylor Stout, Dade Martens, Alexxis and Austin Schnider, Aaron James Marksmiller; one step-great-granddaughter, Maryn Winstead: three sisters-in-law, Marilyn Hinz of Ankeny, Iowa, Evelyn Martens of Omaha, Nebraska, and Pauline Graves of Manning, Iowa; as well as several nieces and nephews.