Aug.
31, 1952 - Jan. 5, 2010SOUTH BEND - Martha M.M. Lewis "Marti", 57, of South Bend, IN, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes Tuesday, January 5, 2010, in her residence. Martha was born August 31, 1952 in Lafayette, Indiana, to the late Richard and Florence (Wirsching) Lewis, and had lived in South Bend on and off since 1968. She is survived by her sister, Ruth Lewis of Ann Arbor, Michigan; two brothers, Jonathan (Peggy) Lewis of Muncie, Indiana and Paul (Kalene) Lewis of Warsaw, Indiana; six nieces and nephews, Derek and Aaron Lewis both of Muncie, and Amylia, Zachery, Samuel and Elizabeth Lewis all of Warsaw; a maternal cousin, Margot Cozell of Montvale, New Jersey; an uncle and aunt, Raymond and Grace Lewis of Mentone, Indiana along with many paternal cousins of Indiana, Ohio and Washington D.C. Marti attended Lakeshore High School in Stevensville, Michigan and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School (South Bend) in 1970, Grand Rapids Baptist College and Seminary with a BA degree in 1976, Calvin College (Grand Rapids) with a BS degree also in 1976 as well as some graduate course work at Michigan State University. In her youth she was active in the Pioneer Girls and 4-H. In College she enjoyed playing women's varsity basketball as well as coaching girls basketball. She had a great interest in archeology and the arts. Her artistic endeavors included drawing a comic strip. She retired as a manager with Federal Express then worked as owner and manager of the Howard Park General Store on Jefferson Blvd. Marti was very interested in neighborhood and urban development, preservation of historical buildings and sites, especially the Botanical Gardens and Conservatory, and building an arts community in downtown South Bend. She was very concerned about the historic preservation of the Howard Park General Store and Fat Daddies building at Michigan and Monroe along with other sites. Her local activities also included: President of the Botanical Society of South Bend. Marti was instrumental in establishing the Botanical Society and worked in partnership with the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County to save the Potawatomi Botanical Conservatory along with the rehabilitation of its collections. She helped establish the South Bend Community Gardens by providing space at the South Bend Conservatory grounds and helped establish the Urban Garden Market and was a member of the Market Management Team. President of the Howard Park Neighborhood Association. She was instrumental in the revitalization of the original Howard Park Neighborhood Association. She was personally responsible for getting every resident on Quimby Street to participate in the Curbs and Sidewalks: Good Neighbors, Good Neighborhoods program. The whole block had a new street and new sidewalks. She represented her neighborhood as a board member of the Neighborhood Resource Corporation, and served as Secretary of the Board. Other involvement's included: the River Park Business Association, Member and past Board Member; Common Council Citizen Member, Representative on Parks, Arts, Culture & Recreation (PARCS) Committee; Urban City Chicken Movement, as a voice for those seeking to change the city ordinance to allow chickens within city limits; a member of the St. Joe County Democratic Women's Club, a poll worker and Precinct Committee Woman and provided her store as the campaign headquarters for Hillary Clinton; former member of the River Park Neighborhood Association and where she first got involved in neighborhood associations; and a former VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service) member. Martha was a member of the Kern Road Mennonite Church. We loved our sister Martha and the friend known as Marti, she was very generous and will be missed by many. If anybody needed anything she was always there to help. She graciously made her store available as a meeting site for many organizations. Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday January 9 2010, in Kern Road Mennonite Church, 18211 Kern Rd., South Bend, IN. Friends may visit with the family 1:00 till 3:00 p.m. in the church on Saturday. Burial will be at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma, Michigan on Monday January 11, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Welsheimer Family Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Botanical Society of South Bend, P.O. Box 4236, South Bend, IN 46634. e-mail condolences may be left at www.welsheimer.com