Martha Flusek Obituary

On September 28, 2024, Martha M. Flusek, 86, passed-away in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. She was an extraordinary woman, full of grace, filled with positive energy, and an inquisitive nature. Here is her story.
The world became a brighter place on July 21, 1938, when a baby girl was born to Earl and Harriet Bower, in Germfask, MI. Martha Mandania Bower was the last baby to be delivered by her midwife grandmother and namesake Martha Livermore.
The oldest of four children, Martha embraced her position in birth order. Followed by her brother Orin and sisters Lucy and Ruth, she was the leader of many sibling and cousin adventures.
A born storyteller, she would tell of a childhood from a different era - where kids only had the outdoors, their imaginations and each other for entertainment. She was proud of her upbringing as a "farm girl". She left a collection of written memories to be passed on.
Her family later moved to lower Michigan. Here is where she met and fell in love with Wayne Flusek. On September 24, 1955, they were married in a small ceremony at Wayne's parents home in Newaygo, MI.
After living and working in the Grand Rapids area, Martha and Wayne decided that wasn't where they wanted to raise a family. In 1960, they bought property outside Manistique where they made their home and livelihood.
Martha helped design and run their mini golf course, was a talented taxidermist and took care of the books for Wayne's auto-body business. Later she worked as a home health aide before becoming a residential aide for Hiawatha Behavioral Health, from where she later retired after 17 years.
Embracing her farm roots, Martha was an avid gardener all her life. Planting seeds, nurturing them and harvesting their bounty brought her joy and filled her cupboards with vegetables and preserves. Her daughters and grandchildren loved having jars to bring home after a visit and Martha loved sharing her homemade goodies with neighbors and friends.
Always curious, she didn't stop with just trying different packaged seed varieties. Using what was growing naturally in the area was also a passion. She was well versed on what plants, roots and flowers were edible. Having colorful salads for dinner was common. Canning using lilac flowers for jelly, rose hips to make honey, dandelion flowers for jelly were just some of her favorites.
Being a storyteller, Martha enjoyed writing her own stories not just about her childhood, but from her imagination. To be authentic, she would sample the plants her characters would be eating to be sure they were palatable to be a true source of food.
Passionate about family history, Martha enjoyed writing to far away relatives to learn more about her family tree. Livermore ancestors who served in the Civil War always interested her. She had a collection of books and stories written by or about them.
Her love of growing wasn't limited to vegetables and fruits. Planting flowers from seeds and bulbs brought her joy. She loved the colors and scents they produced. Whether creating a colorful flower garden, a vase for the kitchen table or an arrangement to enter in the fair or flower show, the beauty of flowers brought her peace and fulfillment.
Never one to have idle hands, Martha sewed her whole life. Her daughters have cherished memories of looking through pattern books and touching all the bolts of fabric with her at Ben Franklin. She was a skilled seamstress, able to mix patterns to create a unique design. Whether making Barbie clothes, prom dresses, or a wedding dress, she always found time to make things for her girls.
While some of her quilt blocks were machine stitched, all of the actual quilting was done meticulously by hand. A winter activity, the living room often held a quilt hoop at the ready for those spare moments to add some stitches. Like her personality, her quilts were bright and happy.
Her daughters and grandchildren have fond memories of fishing with her on Gulliver Lake. Whether in a canoe, rowboat or motorboat, there was always an opportunity to drop a line and spend quality time together. The best of those fishing trips were followed by a fish fry and a bonfire.
Martha lived and loved her faith. Baptized at the Bethel Baptist Church in Manistique, she also attended Maple Grove Mennonite Church and Maple Grove Community Church. She shared her faith as a bible school leader. Her love of God and belief in Heaven sustained her through many challenges and hardships. Her unwavering faith kept her positive, understanding and loving throughout her life.
Spending time with her daughters, son-in-laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren filled her heart. Hours of memories playing cards and Scrabble around her kitchen table will forever be held dear. Being with her nephews and their families as well as lunches, outings and worship with her cousins brought happiness as did visiting with neighbors.
Martha is survived by daughter Katherine (Bruce) Bunge, daughter Susan (Wellyn) Pomeroy, daughter Lorraine Mayer, grandsons Bryce (Katy) Lancour, Preston (Leah) Lancour, Brendan Pomeroy, Aiden Pomeroy and Dewayne Osmon. She leaves five beloved great grandchildren Daniel, Oliver, Dallas, Memphis and Natalie. Preceding her in death is her father Earl Bower, mother Harriet Bower, brother Orin Bower, sister Ruth Grindstaff, sister Lucy Welch, husband of 68 years, Wayne Flusek, and infant son Earl Flusek.
Her family would like to thank the staff at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice Center and Home Care Team for their compassionate care of Martha until she passed on September 28, 2024. Daughters Katherine and Susan were able to hold her hands and be with her as she went home to Jesus.
A graveside service will be held Friday, October 4, 2024, at 1pm, at Riverside Cemetery in Germfask. Please note there will be no seating, so please bring a chair if standing will be uncomfortable.
In lieu of flowers, Martha asked that donations be made to the Eva Burrell Animal Shelter at 6090W US-2, Manistique, MI 49854.
Fausett Family Funeral Homes is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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