Obituary of Estelle E. Martin

Estelle Elaine Martin, of Castle Rock Colorado, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 8th after a long illness. She was 87. She is survived by her husband A. L. Martin – known as Fritz, sisters, Eileen Lindell (Don), Joyce Douglass (Dale), and Barbara Lebsock; her sister-in-law, Mabel Lucas (Jim); her children Amy Reed (Greg), Barbara Jacobson (Lance), and Tony Martin (Patsy); grandchildren Amber Reed, Julie Reed Morales (Joe), Angela Martin (Peter Dybdahl) and Jacob Martin; and great grandchildren Anna Dybdahl and Jocelyn Morales. She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Frieda Lebsock, her brother, Maynard Lebsock, and grandson Adam Reed. Estelle was born in Brush, Colorado in 1929 to Carl and Frieda Lebsock, She remembered as a girl attending church services conducted entirely in German. Growing up in this tight knit, rural community during the Great Depression shaped her according to old fashioned values that she remained true to her entire life: devotion to family, hard work, patience, humility, duty and self-sacrifice, flexibility, and acceptance. In 1946, she served coffee to a handsome young WWII vet who came into her father’s restaurant. That man, Fritz Martin, became her husband, and despite what were then enormous cultural differences – he was Italian and Roman Catholic – they built a marriage together that over 67 years was the source of much happiness as well as three children, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. Estelle loved being a mother and homemaker – and although her husband’s career meant a series of moves from Akron, Colorado, to Parkersburg West Virginia, to Plainfield Indiana, to Absecon, New Jersey. Wherever she found herself, she took it as a high calling to make sure that her husband and her children had a stable, warm, nurturing home. It was a spotless home filled with love and music and the smell of great cooking! When her children were old enough to be more independent, Estelle embarked on what was to become a 20 year career in the Stock Market. She began as a secretary for a brokerage firm in Atlantic City, and worked her way up to become a registered broker and operations manager of the firm. During this time, she earned an associate’s degree from Atlantic City Community College. In 1990, Estelle moved back to Colorado to be near family, and spent the next 26 years in Castle Rock. In her retirement, she enjoyed playing the piano, being creative with various craft projects, spending time with her sisters, children and grandchildren and traveling the world with her husband. All those whose lives she touched will remember her for her graciousness, her kindness and her gentle wisdom. These qualities live on in the lives of those she loved. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, April 13th at 10:00 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Castle Rock. Her final resting place will be at Fort Logan Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Little Sisters of the Poor.Charitable donations may be made to: Little Sisters of the Poor 3629 W. 29th Ave., Denver CO 80211 Tel: 1-303-433-7221 Web: http://www.littlesistersofthepoordenver.org/donations/ Service Information