Martha Joann Houk

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Martha Joann Houk, 70, of Topeka, Kan., was lovingly taken home by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sept. 1, 2007, at Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan., following a battle against cancer. JoAnn was born on June 4, 1937, to Martin Joseph and Mary Kathryn (Frewing) Werner at the family farm located at the first corner north and one mile west of St. Augustine Catholic Church, in Fidelity, Kan. In her earlier years, the Werner family moved to the Kincaid area, where JoAnn attended one-room country schools, then Kincaid High School. On June 6, 1954, JoAnn married Joseph Benjamin Houk in Moran, Kan. JoAnn was a devoted military wife and homemaker for most of her life. From 1961 to 1968, Joe and JoAnn owned and operated the Houk Insurance Agency in Moran. Joe returned to service in the U.S. Navy, which sent the family coast to coast until his retirement in 1978. JoAnn loved the challenges and rewards of creating sanctuaries open to all as was evident by the homes she made in Norfolk, Va., San Diego, Calif., Oxnard, Calif., Durango, Colo., Eagle Butte, S.D., and all the family homes in Kansas ( Augusta, Humboldt, Lawrence, Bronson and Topeka). In her later years her grandchildren were the light of her life. She adored them all, as they adored her, and she was the greatest cheerleader, making every sporting event, dance, academic, music, church event and graduation that she could.

To Read More
Subscribe Sign In
Continue reading with a subscription
Subscription options