Martha "Marty" Beckman

Martha M. “Marty” Beckman, 99, of Kalona, died Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a sudden illness. A private memorial service will be held Saturday, May 15, 2021, at 2:30 PM at the Kalona United Methodist Church. The service will be available via Livestream at the Beatty Peterseim Facebook page.  The family will greet friends from 3 - 5 PM on Friday, May 14, 2021, at the Peterseim Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial funds may be given to the Kalona United Methodist Church, Kalona Library, or the Kalona Historical Society. Donations may be sent to the Peterseim Funeral Home at PO Box 81, Kalona, IA, 52247.

Martha Mae (Chappell) Beckman was born December 10, 1921, in Rockford, Illinois, the daughter of Guy J. and Glenora (Cook) Chappell. The family moved to Iowa City in 1925 and she graduated from City High in 1940. She attained a business degree from the University of Iowa in 1944. On September 9, 1944, she was united in marriage to Charles Wagner Beckman in Iowa City. The couple moved to Kalona in 1947. Marty was a member of the UI Alumni Association, the UI President’s Club, Alpha Phi Alumni, Pilgrim Chapter D.A.R., IDRIS Club of Kalona, Kalona Historical Society, Kalona Library Foundation Board, and Jessamine Chapter Order of the Eastern Star. She was a Girl Scout leader for seven years and a Cub Scout den mother for two years. Marty co-owned Kalona Kountry Kreations and was a tour guide for the Kalona Historical Society.

Survivors include three daughters: Barbara Beckman-Beard (Michael) of Needham, MA, Virginia Haynes of Castle Rock, CO, Cherie Beckman (Judy Lewis) of Seattle, WA, and one son, Charles C. Beckman (Laurie) of Gilbert, AZ, seven grandchildren: Emily Beard (Robert Butcher), Charles M. Beard, Steven Haynes (Andrea), Kevin Haynes, Tracy Wright (Marcus), Jesse Beckman (Lauren), Corinne Beckman, six great-grandchildren: Genesis, Emma and Evan Haynes, Abigail Butcher, Alice and Harlan Belle Beckman and sister-in-law Lila Jean Murphy.

Preceding Marty in death were her parents, her sister Glenora Hughes, and her husband Dr. Charles W. Beckman.