Martha (Fuerst Nault)

January 9, 1926 to July 13, 2010

On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, Mom passed away with her family at her side at Beausejour Hospital.

Martha, aged 84 years, will be greatly missed by Gib, her husband of 48 years, her children Tracey (Keith) Tomasson of Winnipeg, MB, Derrick (Eunhee) of Calgary, AB, Dennis (Bonnie) Fuerst of East Selkirk, MB and Gary (Lori) Nault of Winnipeg; her grandchildren Melanie (Pete) Wiess, Maizelle (Chuck) Disbrowe, Jamie Nault, Kris Tomasson, Brendan Tomasson, Kara Tomasson, Erin Tomasson, Joey Nault, Reagan Nault and Wade Nault; great grandchildren Isabel Disbrowe, Lucas Disbrowe, Wyatt Nault and Rhian Nault.

Martha was predeceased by her parent Ludwig and Albertina Fuerst and step-mother Tillie, her brothers Irvin and Eric, two infant brothers Roy and Paul and brothers in-law Irvin and Art Richter.

She is survived by her sisters Elsie (Steve) Hankins of Carrollton, TX, Olga (Len) Buss of Beausejour, MB, Lydia Richter of Whitemouth, MB, Arlene Richter of Beausejour, MB, Irene (Blake) Spence of Coon Rapids, MN, Cecelia (Garland) Latham of Pensacola, FL and brothers Ken (Joan) Trapp of Beausejour, MB and Mickey (Pat) Trapp of Aldergrove, BC, sisters in-law Steffie Fuerst of Edmonton, AB and Irene Fuerst of Beausejour, MB

Martha was born in the village of Nespojanka, Volynia, Poland on January 9, 1926. Along with her parents and brother Irvin she emigrated to Canada in 1927 arriving in Lydiatt, MB by train and eventually settling in St. Ouens and Golden Bay districts, both east of Beausejour.

With the passing of her mother, Martha and her sister Elsie helped their father with household and farm chores and caring for their other sisters and brothers. They welcomed step-mother Tillie (nee Trapp) and her family into their family in 1944.
Mom went on to work in various places in Winnipeg and lived in Calgary, AB for seven years before returning to Beausejour, where she worked at Kaatz’s Food Market. She married Sgt. B.G. (“Gib”) Nault in 1962. Owing to Gib’s air force career, her and Gib and their daughter Tracey and son Derrick lived in Duluth, MN and Armstrong, ON returning once again to Manitoba when Gib was transferred to CFS Beausejour in 1971. Mom returned to her previous job at Kaatz’s Food later working at Mike Petrow’s Family Fare and finally Beausejour Co-op before her retirement.

She was active in the community throughout most of her life, with her interests including participating in the mixed bowling league, doing community service with Zion Lutheran Church Women’s Group (LCW) (being appointed as its president at one point) and the Beausejour Lioness Club, serving on the Zion Church Council and being a member of the Beausejour Royal Canadian Legion.

She enjoyed cooking for the family, corresponding with friends from air force postings and pen pals, reading and traveling across Canada on family trips and later with husband Gib for air force reunions.

Her struggle with Parkinson’s Disease took its toll as she moved from home care to East Gate Lodge in Beausejour in recent years. She nonetheless lived out her final years with great grace and dignity in her interactions with friends, family and caregivers.

Funeral Service will be held on Monday, July 19 at 1:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 403 First Street N., Beausejour, MB. Pastor Bart Coleman will be officiating. Interment will be followed in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Derrick Nault, Kris Tomasson, Brendan Tomasson, Keith Tomasson, Gary Nault and Jamie Nault.

The family would like to thank the staff of East Gate Lodge and Beausejour Hospital for their kindness toward Martha in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, if friends and family so desire, donations in Martha’s memory may be made to Parkinson’s Society of Canada, Ste 316-4211 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M2P 2AP (website: www.parkinson.ca) or Zion Lutheran Church, Memorial Fund, Beausejour, MB R0E 0C0.

Condolences for the family may be offered at www.SoberingFuneralChapel.com.

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