Martha Sejkora
Martha Sejkora, 93, of Arizona City, Arizona, passed away Dec. 24, 2017.
Martha was born July 25, 1924 to Frank and Veronica Andel of David City, Nebraska.
In her early years, Martha lived on a farm northeast of David City with her parents and brothers, George, Marcel and Robert, and sisters, Elsie and MaryAnn.
Martha married Jerry Sejkora of Grant, Neb., on Feb. 25, 1946, where they owned a farm southwest of town. The farm provided a wonderful environment for them to raise a family of six children. Martha loved to garden, and was a long-time member of the Garden Club in Grant, and both she and Jerry were members of the parish at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Grant.
After 42 years of farm life, Martha and Jerry retired to Arizona City in 1988 to enjoy the milder winters and be closer to several of the children who had moved to Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
Martha and Jerry were parishioners of Saint Helen of the Cross Catholic Church in Eloy, Ariz., where Martha was active in the Altar Society and served as a Eucharistic Minister. She lived in Arizona City from 1988 until 2015, when she relocated to an assisted living facility in Queen Creek, Ariz.
Martha was very proud of her families’ Czech heritage and she worked endless hours on the genealogy of both the Sejkora and Andel families; more than three decades before the days of the internet and Ancestry.com.
Anyone who traveled with Martha and Jerry knew they would need to take the time to stop and check the phone book for any long lost relatives. Everyone was impressed with the family tree that she would post across the length of the entire church hall at the Appleton parish near David City.
Holidays and gatherings were always a time to enjoy her cooking. She loved to read cookbooks and share recipes. Her traditional roast duck, potato dumplings and kolaches were enjoyed by many over the years.
After moving to Arizona she loved to share citrus and figs from her fruit trees and would often bake German chocolate cake for church events and visiting relatives.
Martha was preceded in death by her husband Jerry in 1998; son Richard of Castle Dale, Utah in 2005; and daughter-in-law Barbara of Mesa in 2016, her parents and brothers George and Marcel, and sister Elsie Smola.
Martha is survived by five children: Nancy and husband Larry Gutknecht of Las Vegas, Nev.; Robert of Mesa, Ariz.; Donald and wife Karen of Queen Creek, Ariz.; Ken and wife Eileen of Norton, Mass.; and Doug and wife Kelly of Hastings, Neb. Martha had 14 grandchildren: Danny and Mike Gutknecht, Roxann and B.J. Sejkora, Tommy, Richard Jr., and Tina [Farnsworth] Sejkora, Tonya [Stepp] and Heath Sejkora, Patrick, Thomas and Luke Sejkora, and Kelsey [Fox] and Scott Sejkora. She also had 14 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brother Robert Andel of David City and sister MaryAnn Romshek of Bellwood, Neb.; Theresa Sejkora, Mary Sejkora and by many nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Her faith in God was the cornerstone of her marriage and family life. Her family and friends firmly believe that her strong faith has led her to her true home. And just as Martha always said at the end for every conversation, “Love You!” to her we wish “S Panem Bohem,” or Czech for “Go with God!”
A memorial service is planned for Feb. 24, 2018 at Saint Helen of the Cross Catholic Church in Eloy, Ariz., with interment of her remains at Queen of Heaven Cemetery and Mausoleum in Mesa.