Memorials › Martha Marie Houdek Schafer
Martha Marie Houdek Schafer
31 May 1937 – 5 Dec 2023
| Birth | 31 May 1937 |
| Death | 5 Dec 2023 |
| Cemetery | Saint Aloysius Cemetery Olivia , Renville County , Minnesota , USA |
| Added by | Ruthy Goblirsch Sturgill on 20 Sep 2024 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/262074742 |
Bio
Martha Marie Houdek was born on 31 May 1937, to Stanley Frank and Irene Mary Goblish Houdek, on the family farm in Henryville Township, Renville County, Minnesota. Martha attended District #59 country school through eighth grade and graduated from Danube High School in 1955. After graduation, she attended Willmar Vo-Tech College, where she majored in Accounting. After she finished Vo-Tech, she worked as a bookkeeper for the Trojan Seed Company, Olivia Feed Mill, RCCR, and Triad Construction. She later worked as a waitress at several of the local restaurants. Martha Marie married Edward Joseph "Ed" Balcer, the son of Stanley Edward and Winifred Marie Henry Balcer, on 27 August 1955, in St. Mary's Catholic Church, in Bechyn. They had four children: Mona Kay, Debra, Scott, and Troy. Martha and Edward divorced on 13 October 1970, in Renville County, Minnesota. On 2 October 1971, Martha was united in marriage to Eugene Gustave "Gene" Schafer, the son of Arthur, Sr., and Esther Voigt Schafer. Martha and Gene made their home in Olivia. Each brought four children into their blended union and they completed their family with another son and daughter. Martha enjoyed card playing, especially snozzle; and, dancing the Waltz and Polka. She was a devout Catholic and faithful member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, where she was very involved with the CCW. Her love of cooking and serving others didn't end in the kitchen at church; her potato salad, often times, made by the gallons, was enjoyed by numerous community members. At large family gatherings, Martha was notorious for having a plate of ham sandwiches ready to serve, immediately following the main meal. Her strong work ethic was admirable, and she passed it down to her children; teaching them to "do things right the first time so you don't have to do them again." Martha was very proud of her family and enjoyed the time she spent with them. Following a stroke in 2010, Martha became fiercely independent; she lived her life with the mindset "if you do this for me, I will lose the ability to do it for myself." This led her to live with determination to complete all of her tasks, no matter how much her physical ability challenged her. Her strong will, generosity, and caring soul will be dearly remembered and missed. Martha Marie Houdek Balcer Schafer, of Olivia, while surrounded by her family, died at the age of 86, on Tuesday, 5 December 2023, at the Renville County Hospital, in Olivia, Renville County, Minnesota. Martha was survived by her children: Debra Balcer of Redwood Falls, Scott Balcer of Cedar Park, Texas, Troy (Gayle) Balcer of Edina, Jason (Jennifer) Schafer of Crosby, and Vonnie (Kyle) Schaufler of Olivia; her 16 grandchildren: Kayla Balcer, Anthony Gerdes, Chris McCormick, John Balcer, Madeleine and MacAllister Balcer, Tyler Gettel, Corbin, Logan, Chloe, and Natalie Schafer, Katherine Schafer, Logan Egge, Gavin and Ava Hammerschmidt, and Weston Schaufler; her siblings: Margaret Meuhlberg, Marie Revier, Henry Houdek, Rita (Charlie) Healy, Diane (Dick) Haney, Dottie (Jim) Elfering, Rosemary (Michael) Woelfel, and Don Houdek; and many relatives and friends. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Edward Joseph Balcer and Eugene Gustave Schafer; daughter, Mona Kay Balcer; brother, Edward Houdek; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Houdek-Kohout and Mary Houdek; and brother-in-law, Ronald Revier. Visitation was held on Sunday, 10 December, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., at the Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Olivia, and continued for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, 11 December 2023, at 1:00 p.m., at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia, with the Reverend George Schmit as celebrant. Martha Marie Schafer was buried in St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery, in Olivia, Renville County, Minnesota.
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