Martha F.(Brehmer) Martin

Martha F. (Brehmer) Martin, 90 of Topeka, passed away at home on April 24, 2017. Martha and her late husband George Z. Martin owned and operated Martin's Hobby & Toy Shops. After his WWII Navy service, George returned to Topeka to marry Martha on February 22, 1947; the same year, they opened Martin Model Railroad Supply Shop in Oakland. Not having much money at the time, they lived in a small apartment adjacent to the store. After George's death May 21, 1963, Martha supported their two children by taking over Martin's Hobby & Toys, the family business and maintained stores at multiple locations throughout Topeka until the mid-70s.

Martha was born July 18, 1926 in Topeka to Frank E. and Martha J. (Vetter) Brehmer, German immigrants who became naturalized US citizens. Martha and her sister Frances were first generation Americans. Martha graduated from Topeka High in 1944 and attended Washburn University. She never forgot her humble beginnings and experiences of prejudice as a child of immigrant parents; which shaped her recognition of the unique diversity each person experiences in life.

Martha worked at the Nifty Nuthouse, VA Hospital and Santa Fe. In 1951 Martha was selected as Mrs. Kansas. With George's support, Martha travelled to New Jersey to compete as one of four finalists in the Mrs. USA competition, accompanied by their year old son and her mother. In 1953, now the mother of a toddler son and an infant, she was invited to compete again. In the recipe division Martha entered a dish she called mother-in-law goulash, not as an insult to her husband's mother, but because the elder Mrs. Martin taught her to make it and "it's a dish my husband likes real well".

As a widow who never remarried, Martha was an early role model in balancing the necessity of working outside the home while raising two children. After her children graduated high school she closed the stores and began working as a federal employee, travelling the country first as a loan officer for the Small Business Administration Disaster Loans and later as an Administrative Hearing Officer for the FDIC. After retiring from those jobs, she returned to Topeka obtaining relator and broker licenses before finally retiring. Martha loved singing and travelling around town in her bright blue VW Beetle "Blue Sapphire". Martha proudly voted in recent elections against both Brownback and Trump, strongly offended by their political actions she viewed as harmful to the state of Kansas and our country. She was brilliant, resourceful and humble throughout her life, consistently underestimating her own beauty and talents. She had a wonderful sense of humor, was gracious, strong and simply amazing.

Survivors include son Ted Martin and wife Lee Ann Patterson, Denison; daughter Carolyn Martin and husband Jim Captain, Parsons; grandchildren Caleb Martin, Topeka; Jessica and husband Ray Billings, Topeka and Aleta Martin, Washington; great-grandchildren Nora, Sophie and Cayden as well as her sister-in-law Nancy Echols and family, Topeka. Family members by choice, include Renee and Becky, caregivers who along with Ted and Lee Ann supported her to remain in her beloved home for her final days and neighbors Susan and Tyrone. Martha was preceded in death by her sister Frances and brother-in-law Donald Tutt, parents and parents-in-law, as well as Martha's best friend since childhood (and later neighbors) Maxine and husband Bud Logan.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life visitation will be from 11:00am - 1:00pm on Wednesday, May 24, at Dove Cremation & Funeral Service, 4020 SW 6th Ave. Topeka, KS 66606. Memorial contributions may be made to Helping Hands Humane Society, 5720 SW 21st St., Topeka, KS 66604-3720 or Proud Animal Lovers Shelter, P.O. Box 48, Parsons, Kansas 67357.

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