Rhoda M. Martin

Any of Rhoda Martin’s nine grandchildren will tell you she was different from a typical grandma.

She did like to sew and bake cookies for her grandchildren, but she also liked to play tennis, swim relay races, do handstands in the pool and play ball.

Playing ball was something Rhoda loved her whole life. From her youth, she was always a “jock,” even in a time when that wasn’t so common for a girl.

Rhoda Marie Schnedler was born May 25, 1937 to Robert E. and Vera M. Schnedler in St. Charles. Rhoda thought the world of her parents, and she and her older sister, Anne, were the best of friends throughout their lives.

Growing up, Rhoda loved to play sports with the boys, particularly baseball. She was a second baseman.

She also loved to watch sports, especially the St. Louis Cardinals. Her hero was Marty Marion.

She attended St. Charles High School, where she was a cheerleader and made many lifelong friends. She graduated in 1955.

After high school, Rhoda attended William Jewell College, where she met the love of her life, Jim Martin. Their love story is one of the greats.

The pair married on April 5, 1957. Like every marriage, they had their hard times, but their love always saw them through. Their relationship was built on a selfless devotion to one another.

Jim and Rhoda had three children -- Sherri, Paul and Tim.

Rhoda always put her children first and supported them in everything. She was the leader for Sherri’s Brownie troop and cheered for her sons wherever they competed -- pools, fields and courts.

Paul remembers her as his No. 1 fan, and she was never too shy to yell at the referees who didn’t see things her way.

She did all of this while working as a special education teacher for the St. Louis Special Schools district and helping her parents when they needed it. When Rhoda’s father died, she made time for her mother for the rest of her life.

Family was everything to Rhoda.

As her family grew to include grandchildren, Rhoda added the role of grandmother to her top priorities. She and Jim lived in Wichita by then, and she often made the seven hour drive to St. Louis -- alone -- to spend more time with her grandchildren. As with her own children, she cheered on the next generation, but refrained from yelling at any officials.

Her granddaughters loved American Girl dolls, and Rhoda sewed countless outfits, with intricate detail, for each doll. She even once threw a birthday party for a granddaughter’s doll, who was Swedish, complete with Swedish pancakes.

Trips to Wichita were a special treat for her grandchildren. They all have fond memories of playing board games, taking long walks to the park, going to the pool and cooking with their grandma.

Rhoda loved to cook. Her campfire potatoes were legendary, as were the boisterous games of Pit she hosted.

The grandchildren that lived in Wichita were lucky enough to spend even more time with their grandparents, who played a special role in their lives.

When they weren’t spending time with family, Rhoda and Jim enjoyed travelling. Rhoda loved spending winters in their home in Florida. She also loved gardening and holidays. Christmas was her favorite. She spent hours making delicious cookies and took great pride in her Christmas tree. Each ornament had a story.

She remained an avid sports fan all her life, watching as many Cardinals games and college basketball games as she could. She always rooted for her children and grandchildren’s schools, including Mizzou. Her husband rooted for the Jayhawks, but she didn’t hold that against him.

Rhoda passed away peacefully in her home on Sept. 26. She was 78. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and friend.

Rhoda is survived by Jim, her children and spouses; Sherri (Ray) Geisman, Shrewsbury, Paul (Sharon) Martin, Weldon Spring Tim (Donna) Martin, Seattle; nine grandchildren, Pamela Davidson, Sarah Geisman, Colleen Martin, Ben Geisman, Catherine Martin, Dan Geisman, Matt Geisman, Dale Martin and Veronica Martin; and her sister and brother-in-law, Anne (Don) Kolkmeier.


In lieu of flowers, please donate to to Zion Lutheran Church in St. Charles or the Alzheimer's Association.