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Martin B. Barz

1908 - 1995

Martin B. Barz

Klemme - Martin B. Barz, 87, of Klemme, died Sunday (Nov. 19, 1995) at the Kanawha Community Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Georgia White-Kisslring officiating. Interment will be in the Ell Township Cemetery, with military rites by the Klemme VFW-American Legion.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. today at the Tenold Funeral Home, Klemme, and from 11:30 a.m. until one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church.

Martin Benjamin Barz, the son of Herman F. and Olga M. (Ratzlaff) Barz, was born March 28, 1908, in rural Klemme.

He attended rural school and graduated from Klemme High School in 1926.

On June 24, 1930, he was united in marriage to Irene M. Drake at Clear Lake. They have lived their entire life in Klemme. To this union, one daughter, Maxine, was born.

Martin served in the United States Navy during World War II, in the Pacific area, and was involved in the invasion of Okinawa. He was stationed in Japan after its surrender.

From 1928 to 1952, Martin was employed at the Klemme Food Market, the last 20 years as manager.

He started working in the First National Bank in 1952, as a bookkeeper, and at the time of his retirement from the bank in 1973, he was vice president, cashier and a member of the board of directors. He then established his independent insurance agency, which he sold in 1986.

He was a member of the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ.

He has been an active booster and supporter for Klemme. He was a member of the Klemme School Board, Lions Club, Klemme Recreation Club, Klemme Apartment Board, and elder in his church, City Council, as treasurer.

He was a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Garner, member of the American Legion, Klemme Area Development Organization (K.A.D.O.), Klemme Senior Citizens Klub, and was named the Outstanding Senior Citizen for Klemme and Hancock County in 1960. He also served as a member of the board for the Prairie View Apartments in Garner.

He is survived by his wife, Irene Barz of the Kanawha Community Nursing Home; a grandson, Scott Carter and his wife, Rose, of Youngsville, N.C.; granddaughter, Sue Carter of Raleigh, N.C.; great-grandson, Scott Carter Jr.; sister, Stella Barz of Klemme; son-in-law, Robert Krall; and sister-in-law, Gladys Drake of El Paso, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Maxine Krall; parents; brothers, Gerald and Paul; and sister, Marcedia.

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