Margaret 'Joan' Koenig Martz

Joan was the second child, and only daughter, born to Harry and Mary Weishaar. Harry was the oldest of fourteen children whose family lived in Nortonville KS. Several of Joans lifelong friends and fondest memories were of activities that involved her many aunts, uncles and cousins. Harry, Mary, her brothers, Don, Bill, Bob, John, and Joan lived in Gem, a small village in western Kansas where her father farmed some of the most dry and flat farmland on earth in the dustbowl 1930s. She spent her early childhood in Gem, and then left western Kansas to attend St. Marys, a boarding school in Leavenworth KS. She continued her education at St. Marys College and Providence Hospital Nursing School. In 1952, she graduated as a registered nurse and spent a long career taking care of newborns and sick people of all ages, mostly at St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City.
Joan met and married Al (Fritz) Koenig from Laurens, IA, also in 1952. The newlyweds settled in KCMO and soon welcomed their children: Catherine Jo-1953, Carol Anne-1954, Constance Jean-1956, Susan Lynn1959, and Thomas Michael-1963. In the midst of this mini baby boom, the family moved to Raytown in 1959 into a house that Al built. The entire family was very active at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and School.
As a young suburban "super mom" in the 1960s, Joan worked nights as a nurse at "St. Joes," she efficiently ran a household, and never said no to volunteer opportunities that would benefit her children. She was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, Great Books moderator, Our Lady of Lourdes School nurse, and Camp Little Flower nurse. Joans volunteer work over the years was legendary for the variety and types of organizations she touchedand helped. They are too numerous to list, but they all will miss her and the unselfish contributions she made.
Joan was very outgoing and was quick to make friends wherever she lived. She enjoyed the company of neighbors, friends, kids friends and whoever walked through the door. During the course of her adult life, she lived in Kansas City, Raytown, Lees Summit, Bella Vista AR, and Overland Park KS and leaves behind many friends with whom she shared conversations, meals and many good times.
In the late seventies and early eighties, she presided over a marriage boom: Cathie to Rick, Carol to Ken, Connie to Galen, Sue to John, and Tom to Jackie. Soon, the grandchildren started arriving, and Grandma Joan loved and welcomed each and every one. By the time the five children stopped having children, there were sixteen grands scattered across the county. And now they are joined by twelve great-grandchildren, with one on the way.
Holidays were chaotic in a good way. Joan especially loved buying Christmas gifts for everyone. During the last few years, when gift buying at stores was impossible for her, she got creative and made embroidered towels and napkins for everyone. At Joans 90th birthday party, one of her nephews visiting at her daughters house, was amused to find another favorite gift of hers, a half-used, Costco-sized bottle of Rainbath Body Wash. And this Christmas, Rainbath was a favorite gift - in honor of Joan.
Joan inherited her parents love of travel. The best two weeks of each year were the family camping trip to some exotic location like the Winnipeg Zoo, in Canada, Ventura Beach CA, or the all-time family favorite, Colorado. Joan orchestrated and packed the pop-up camper with all of the accoutrements, and everyone "roughed it," which basically meant there was not an electric plug for a hair dryer readily available. A highlight of those "vacations" for Joan had to be the trips to the laundromat where she had a few blessed minutes of peace away from five squabbling kids. As children grew up and left home, Joan and Al continued to enjoy their travels to exotic and far-flung places.
After Al died in 1997, Joan met and married Bob Martz, a Bella Vista neighbor who had recently lost his wife. Together, they traveled and enjoyed great adventures abroad. When Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimers, Joan became Bobs nurse/caregiver for several years before Bobs death in 2014.
After Bobs passing, Joan joined the senior living community at John Knox Village in Lees Summit. She met some lovely friends there, especially Marvin Sturgeon, who has been Joans friend, confidante, chauffeur, and all-round good man for the last few years.
During these last few difficult COVID years, Joan learned to adjust to the isolation by taking up hobbies that afforded her the opportunity to socialize within the safety of her building, and offered her the ability to fill her time with creative pursuits. She especially loved painting, and was quite good at it!
Joan was a down-to-earth lady who will be always loved and greatly missed by her family and those who were fortunate enough to experience her bright smile, always helpful hands, and generous, loving nature.
The family would like to thank the staff of the four local institutions who helped take care of Joan during her final years: John Knox Village, St. Lukes East, Anthology of the Plaza, and especially those at Kansas City Hospice House.
In your honor, "Mom, Grandma, GG, or Joan, you gave us life and love and the strength we will need to carry on. You inspired us by the example you set, and we will keep you always in our hearts."
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In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Joseph Parish at 221 Sycamore Street, Nortonville, KS, 66060, her Weishaar familys home parish, or KC Hospice House at 12000 Wornall Road, KCMO 64145.
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Following Inurnment
Following Inurnment SERVICES Mass of Christian Burial
Saturday, May 7, 2022 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
St. Thomas More Church 11822 Holmes Road Kansas City, MO 64131
Burial
Saturday, May 7, 2022 11:15 AM
Mount Olivet Cemetery 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd Kansas City, Missouri 64138
Luncheon
Saturday, May 7, 2022 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Windy City Pub 13170 State Line Rd. Leawood, KS 66209


Following Inurnment