Martha Jean (Ingwersen) Garrison

Martha Jean (Ingwersen) Garrison, 76, of Rome, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at her home after a short battle with lung cancer.

 Martha was born on July 12, 1947, at the Memorial Hospital in Mt. Pleasant, the daughter of Raymond Cornelius and Mae Pauline (Messer) Ingwersen.  Martha was united in marriage to David Dickhoff on November 10, 1969; they later divorced.  Martha married the love of her life,  Lester Garrison, on June 15, 1991. Their marriage was of true love and showed everyone what marriage was to be.  She was a hard worker.  She started out working in the kitchen of her parent’s nursing home, was a waitress at her brother’s restaurant and the Princess Café, a custodian at Henry County Health Center, and then for 43 years she worked at Metromail, now known as Innovare, retiring three years ago.  Martha loved her family very much.  She enjoyed the Tuesday morning breakfast and at Miss K’s and the Friday night dinners.  Spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren brought her great joy.

 Martha was a great cook.  Her fried chicken was better than any restaurant around, and her Christmas candy was loved by many, but everyone’s favorite was her “Wacky Cake” with peanut butter frosting.  Martha will forever be missed and remembered by all who loved her.

 Left to honor and cherish her memory, are her husband Lester of 32 years, her two daughters, Carma (John) Seitz of Trenton, Jeanine Dickhoff of Ft. Madison, her son, James (Amber) Garrison of Rapid City, South Dakota, seven grandchildren, Christina Seitz, Lesley (Justin) Prough, Eliza, Alexis and Lily Matsamas, Liam Browning and Indy Browning, three great-grandchildren, Elaina, Orin and Aurora Prough, two brothers, Jerry (Clara) Ingwersen of New London, Darrell Ingwersen of Mt. Pleasant, one sister, Dee Wood of Malvern, Arkansas, along with several nieces, nephews and cousins whom she loved dearly and her beloved Shih Tzu “Rowdy”.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, infant son, Raymond Eugene Dickhoff, one sister, Janet Miller, and four brothers, Lloyd Raymond Ingwersen in infancy, Roger Ingwersen, Sr., Randy “Moose” Ingwersen and Roy Ingwersen, Sr.

 A celebration of Martha’s life will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant with Pastor Zach Fischer officiating.  Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Friday at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant where the family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. that evening.  A memorial has been established to help pay for her funeral expenses.

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