Martha A. Stallbaumer, 75, of Seneca, KS, died peacefully, Saturday, February 23, 2002, at her home in Seneca surrounded by her family. She had battled cancer for the past year.

She was born September 21, 1926, on a farm south of Baileyville, KS, the daughter of Aloysius and Anna Krogman Reinecke. She grew up on the farm, graduated from Sacred Heart Grade School, and from Baileyville High School in 1944. During high school she worked for the Cyril Lauer family in Seneca. After she graduated from high school, she was employed by the Houlihan family in Kansas City.

On April 19, 1952, she married Emmett Stallbaumer at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. He survives of the home. They lived northeast of Corning for six years before relocating to a farm southeast of Axtell. In 1968 the family moved to their present home south of Seneca.

Martha was employed at the Nemaha County Convalescent Home in Seneca, and when it closed she worked in the dietary department at Country View Estates care home in Seneca. She had worked there for 25 years when she retired in June of 2000.

Her memberships include Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca and St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church.

She enjoyed cooking, baking, canning, gardening, reading, writing, painting watercolors, the company of her family, and the comforts of home. Martha especially loved her grandchildren ranging in age from 23 years to four months.

Survivors besides her husband Emmett are three sons, Ron Stallbaumer of Overland Park, KS; Tom Stallbaumer of Rogers, AR, and Jon Stallbaumer of Hiawatha, KS; two daughters, Patty Kuhlmann of Kensington and Amy Brummer, both of Prairie Village, KS; three brothers, Fred “Fritz” Reinecke of Centralia, Louis Reinecke of Seneca, and Tony Reinecke of Garden Grove, CA; four sisters, Josephine Altenhofen of Gardner, KS, Hilda Reinecke and Irene Haverkamp, both of Seneca, and Angela Tangeman of Centralia; and 13 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl and Eugene Reinecke; and two sisters, Mary Ann and Rose Reinecke.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A rosary will be prayed at 2 PM Sunday, with a vigil prayer service at 7 PM Sunday, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School in Seneca, and sent in care of the family.