Jan Marian Martin

Janice M. Martin, 90, of Albion, NE passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Society-Albion.

Visitation without the family present will be 11:00 a.m. through 12:00 p.m. Saturday, November 7, 2020 at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE. A private family graveside service will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Albion, NE. Social distancing and Covid-19 DHM's will be followed at the visitation and masks are requested.

Memorials are suggested to the family.

Janice Marian Martin, daughter of Chet and Winifred (Chrysler) Erickson, was born on August 9, 1930 at Hollywood Hospital in Los Angeles, CA. As an infant, she moved with her family to Denver, CO where she grew up and attended school. When Jan was 13, her father entered World War II and she helped her mother raise her two younger brothers. Because of a polio outbreak, Jan spent a summer taking knitting lessons and soon became a skilled knitter/seamstress. Later in life, she sewed clothes and made many sweaters and afghans for her children and grandchildren. Jan graduated from East High School in Denver with the class of 1948. She then attended college in Laramie, WY.

On February 18, 1950, Jan was united in marriage to Lester James Martin at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Denver, Colorado. Following their marriage, the couple farmed near Cedar Rapids, NE. Although their first farmhouse did not have electricity or water, Jan learned to love the farm life. Later they moved to a farm south of Albion, before moving to the family farm west of Albion where they raised their children: Linda, Laura, Leslie, Licia and Eric. Jan was a farmwife but also worked in a hog unit. They continued living on the farm until moving into town in 2010.

Jan's religious beliefs and church were very important to her. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church for over 65 years and made sure her children attended. However, her children often thought the best part of Sundays were the hot dogs from the West End Grocery Store. Jan held many offices within the church as well. Throughout the years, Jan was a member of various dinner and card clubs, as well as the Harmony Squares dance club. She enjoyed camping while attending musical festivals and square dances. Jan and Lester especially enjoyed going on a six-week trip to Alaska. Jan also enjoyed golfing, especially at the Spalding Cottonwood Greens. In the 1930's, Jan's grandfather was the curator of the Denver Zoo and likely because of this, she was good with animals. She often trained family dogs and even trained a cat to roll over and shake.

Although Jan lived an active life, she always had time for her family. She enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and attending their many activities. She was a great mom and a devoted wife. For over four years, she visited her husband at the Good Samaritan Society almost daily. Later, Jan moved into the nursing home, and continued to enjoy reading and visits from her family, friends, and nursing home family.

Jan is survived by four daughters: Linda Rogers of Pawnee City, NE; Laura (Rev. Gordon) Paulsen of Central City, NE; Leslie (Tedd) Kaufman of Newman Grove, NE; Licia (Kevin) Kunzman of Albion, NE; one son: Eric (Joy) Martin of Plattsmouth, NE; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law: Jacki Martin of Grand Island, NE and Helen Erickson of Lakewood, CO;

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lester; grandson: Chet Rogers; two sons-in-law: Gunter Bieber and Lewis Rogers; and two brothers: Jim Erickson and Harry (Alice) Erickson.