Obituary of Martha Martin

Martha Sutherlin Martin passed away on Friday, February 24, 2023 at her home in Chicago with her family. She lived courageously with pancreatic cancer for five years. Martha was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister and friend. She was born on December 6, 1954 to Robert Sutherlin & Vilda Lausen Sutherlin in Iowa City. She and her older brother Eric were raised in Iowa City. Martha graduated as valedictorian of her class from City High in Iowa City and then she attended Swarthmore College where she received a degree in civil engineering. At Swarthmore, Martha was a member and served as president of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. Also at Swarthmore, Martha met the love of her life, Todd Martin, although it took her until her senior year to realize it. They married only a year after graduation on June 10, 1978. Martha and Todd had two daughters, Alyssa and Brittany. When Martha first met Todd she told him she wanted to conquer the world. In many ways, she did. Martha and Todd led a life full of adventure living and working across 3 continents, 6 countries, and 6 states. Up until the last weeks of Martha's life, they traveled the world. Over the past decade, they would spend January in Australia, including this year, visiting friends, touring remarkable sites and cheering on tennis at the Australian Open. Martha's greatest joy came from helping others. She co-founded the Stewpot Alliance, a non-profit which raised funds to support The Stewpot, a leading Dallas organization that cares for the homeless and those at risk. Martha made friends everywhere she went, and constantly sought to bring smiles to the faces of people whose paths she crossed. Martha is survived by her mother, Vilda Sutherlin; husband, Todd Martin; their two daughters and husbands, Alyssa Raine and Burke Raine, and Brittany Graunke and Gerald Graunke; five grandchildren, Robert Raine, Emmeline Graunke, Vivienne Raine, Dean Graunke, and Jackson Raine. Martha was preceded in death by her father, Robert Sutherlin and brother, Eric Sutherlin. Private family services are planned for Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Martha’s memory to the Stewpot Alliance, First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. Contact philanthropy@thestewpot.org to donate.