The Life of MARTHA ELIZABETH LUITJENS
Martha Elizabeth Verwers was born December 25, 1940 at her home Avaues, Missouri to Le Bartes and Alda Annamae Verwers. Charlotte Verwers, a lifelong friend of Alda, assisted in the birth due to the doctor being busy eating his Christmas dinner. Martha lived on the small Runnells farm until the age of seven. The family then moved to Albia, Iowa, where they lived from 1947-1953.
Martha received the Holy Ghost in Fairfield, Iowa on June 16, 1952. Her family attended church in Centerville at the time when Brother Everett Cooley was pastor. Brother Cooley suggested that they purchase a small grocery store in West Grove, where they stayed from 1953-1956. When the Centerville church closed in 1954, Martha’s family made the 2 ½ hour drive to the church in Des Moines for Sunday afternoon service until 1956 when they were able to move to Des Moines.
Martha graduated from East High School and went on to take classes at AIB Business School. She attended Gospel Assembly Church when it started at 800 Des Moines Street, then 6th and Clinton, and finally 72nd and Meredith. Martha had a long career at Equitable Iowa from 1960-1987. On December 19, 1975, Martha Verwers became Martha Luitjens when she gave her hand in marriage to Delbert Thomas Luitjens. One daughter was born to this union in April of 1979, Lydia LaVerne. Delbert’s daughter, Jeanne Kaufman, has given them three wonderful grandchildren to love.
Martha is survived by her husband, Delbert; daughter, Lydia; stepdaughter, Jeanne Kaufman; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Gospel Assembly Church, 7135 Meredith Drive in Urbandale, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will greet friends Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Gospel Assembly Church in loving memory of Martha
“God has been so good to me.” –Martha Elizabeth (Verwers) Luitjens 1940–2013.
When I started my walk with the Lord, our pastor told us God needed workers. He quoted Ecc. 9:10. I was 11 years old. I told the Lord, I am young, but I want to work for you. Whatever I can do I will. I began by cleaning the church, taught Sunday school, and played in the band. Later, I served in the library’s mail room and school. There is much peace in serving God and His people.
