The Reverend Harriett Nicol Martin, aged 83, died peacefully on All Saints Day, Wednesday, November 1st, 2006, at Friendship House of the Cedar Communities in West Bend where she had lived for about a year.
Harriett was born March 20, 1923 to Rev. Duane and Harriet (nee Duey) Nicol in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She spent most of her childhood and youth living in Chicago. She graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science degree. She taught kindergarten for many years. She later earned an additional degree so she could teach children with special needs. At the age of 50, she entered Bethany Theological Seminary and earned a M.Div. degree in 1977. Following her ordination in 1978, she served as a pastor of St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Elmhurst, Illinois until August of 2000. She became a member of Peace United Church of Christ in Kewaskum when she moved to Cedar Ridge of the Cedar Communities in 2000.
Harriett was blessed with a lovely singing voice and played the piano and harp. As a young woman, she was asked to audition for the New York Metropolitan Opera but declined, stating that she wanted to be married and have a family instead. She married Floyd W. Martin in 1947 and they moved to Villa Park, Illinois in 1950. There they raised four children, all of whom survive: a daughter, Lonnie Farr (married to Tim Farr) of Crystal Lake, Illinois, and three sons: Robert W. Martin of Park Ridge, Illinois, Rev. James Martin (married to Rev. Jennifer Dawson) of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, and Les Martin of West Bend, Wisconsin. She is further survived by seven grandchildren: Chris D'Antonio, Michelle Thompson, Elizabeth Martin Cliffe, Andrew Martin, William Farr, Michelle Farr, and Nicole Farr; six great-grandchildren, a brother, Frank Nicol (married to Violet) of Washington, and one sister-in-law, Barbara Nicol of Oregon. Harriett's husband, Floyd, died in 2001.
A service in thanksgiving for Harriett's life will be held at Saron United Church of Christ (W3830 Cty. Rd. J) in rural Sheboygan Falls on Sunday, November 5th at 6:30 p.m. A time of visitation with the family will be held from 4:00 p.m. until the service. Revs. James Martin, Jennifer Dawson, and Eric Kirkegaard will officiate. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in her name.
The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the staff of the Cedar Communities for the compassionate care that they have shown to Floyd and to Harriett over the past six years.