Martha Ann Greendonner

Martha Ann Greendonner, 84, of Freedom Village in Holland, and formerly Stevensville, MI, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at home with her family by her side.

Martha was born July 6, 1939, to Merle and Gladys (Storrer) Nolph of Baldwin, Michigan. She was a 1957 graduate of Baldwin High School. She graduated from Olivet College in 1961 with a degree in literature. On August 24, 1961, she married Robert “Jack” Greendonner and they shared 62 years together.

A gathering of friends and family will be held from 11 AM-1PM on Friday, March 22nd, 2024, at Pike Funeral Home, 9191 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lake County Historical Society in Baldwin, Michigan, or the Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen https://soupk.org/donate/. Online Condolences may be shared at www.PikeFH.com  

Marty’s love for family extended to friends across southwest Michigan. She planned celebrations that became traditions and enjoyed going to family reunions held all over the country. She got together with her cousins and sisters, found ways to make even grown ups feel like kids on their birthdays, and was known for being a tenderhearted listener and prayer warrior. Her friends at Freedom Village stepped up and reached out to Marty and her family offering not only prayer support but also hugs and a multitude of kind gestures during her last days. The family would like to thank Freedom Village and Holland Hospice staff for their compassionate service.

Marty touched the lives of countless students during her tenures at North Pennfield Elementary, the Lakeshore High School library, Baroda Elementary, Stevensville Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Hollywood Elementary, Duneland Preschool, New Troy Elementary, and Watervliet South Elementary. During her retirement years, she loved traveling the United States and the world with her husband, taking photos of flowers and birds wherever they went. In Michigan, she particularly enjoyed kayaking on rivers from the St. Joseph to the Pere Marquette.

Among other activities, Marty was a Lakeshore High School band booster, a Cub Scout den mother, participated in Red Stockings productions to support the Lincoln Township Public Library, helped write the “Stevensville and Area” history book, and was a member of both the Shoreline Garden and Monday Musical clubs. In Stevensville, she enjoyed gardening in her backyard and her many Saturday morning breakfasts with the ladies of her swim group. In Holland, she helped with a reading program called Baggie Books at West Ottawa Public Schools and served on the Freedom Village Fall Bazaar and Student Scholarship Fund committees—and continued exercising her green thumb in the Freedom Village Garden and the Windmill Island community garden.

Perhaps no one benefited more from her cultivating and donations of time than her four grandchildren, in whom she fostered creativity, loves of the outdoors and the arts, a passion for education, and confidence in skills she was often the first to notice; she marveled at each of their unique accomplishments, in which she no doubt played a foundational part.

Faith was the cornerstone of Marty’s life. She was an active member of Bible Study Fellowship and helped lead Vacation Bible School at Woodland Shores Baptist Church in Bridgman. She served many Saturdays at the Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen, started the Caring Cupboard Food Pantry at Woodland Shores, and hosted Bible story time for neighborhood children.

Martha is survived by her husband: Jack; children: James (Mary Beth) Greendonner and Heidi (Eric) Southard; grandchildren: Michael (Emily) Greendonner, David (Kelsey) Greendonner, Emma Southard, and Carl Southard; great-grandsons: Casey and Gus; and sisters: Virginia (Russ) Noble and Esther (Ron) Munster.

Martha was preceded in death by her infant son Timothy and her parents.