Kathryn Ann Martin

Kathryn Ann Martin (née Arenz)

May 15, 1947 – October 23, 2024

With love, we honor the life of Kathryn Ann Martin, a woman of resilience, and tenacity, and unwavering dedication. Born on May 15, 1947, Ann embodied a strong work ethic from an early age. She attended a one-room “country” school through eighth grade before graduating from Wauneta High School, and continuing her education at business school in Denver, CO. She built a life rooted in family and hard work, marrying Jim Martin and embracing the demands of farm life.

Ann was a devoted mother to her two daughters, raising them with strength and determination. When faced with loss, she worked multiple jobs to support her family as a single mother, never wavering in her commitment to providing the good things in life for her daughters. Later in life, she returned to school to earn her accounting degree, launching her own business and dedicating the last 30 years of her life to managing finances for various companies in the Seattle area.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Ann cherished life's simple joys. She found happiness in planting flowerpots, savoring a good scotch, indulging in BritBox murder mysteries, and sharing laughter with friends. She loved sitting by the ocean listening to the waves, playing board and card games with family, and taking pride in watching her grandsons in sports, band, drumline, and musicals. In the final weeks of her life, she embarked on a memorable journey with her daughters, traveling by train from Seattle to Vermont, fulfilling her dreams of witnessing New England’s fall colors and experiencing the beauty of Amtrak’s rail routes.

Ann is survived by her daughters, Kathryn Martin and husband Dan Resmondo (Seattle, WA), and Samantha Martin and husband Bob Woodard (Seattle, WA); her grandchildren, James Chadek (Seattle, WA), Will Chadek (Seattle, WA), Sumner Resmondo (Prairie Grove, AR) and wife Alejandra with children Liam and Kinsley, and Shannon Woodard with daughter Ari (Seattle, WA). She is also survived by her brother, Ed Arenz, wife Jo, and family (Wauneta, NE), and her sister, Jerry Schluckebier and family (Madison, WI).

Her legacy is one of perseverance, love, and an appreciation for life's beautiful moments. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered. We have taken some time to determine what would be the best way to honor her life. While Mom was not the kind of person who required a formal service, we would like to invite those family and friends that can attend to an informal memorial taking place as follows:

• Date: June 7, 2025 • Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. occurring as an open-house format with light refreshments and no scheduled program.

• Location: Backyard at home of Ed and Jo Arenz, 145 N. Pontiac St., Wauneta, NE 69045

Mom was a generous supporter of those less fortunate. If people are inclined, the family kindly requests donations be made to two causes important to her:

• Seattle Beagle Rescue

• World Wildlife Fund