Local remembered for volunteer efforts

Ortonville- From helping establish a school library to scouts to teaching Sunday school, for more than half a century Martina Kier volunteered her time and skills to make this community a better place.
Martina, 86 died May 3.
Born in New Brunswick, N.J. in 1919, she earned a master’s degree in science from the University of Pennsylvania. She met her future husband Glenn in 1942 while she was working for Squibb a pharmaceutical company. In January 1946 she married Glenn and they moved to Ortonville that same year.
Martina and Glenn raised three children in Ortonville, John, Peter and Jane. She was preceded in death by Glenn in 1985.
‘She was rather feisty when she was younger,? said John Kier, 58, Martina’s oldest son. ‘But she mellowed when she got older.?
That same spunk motivated Martina to volunteer in many local functions.
In the early 1950s she helped set up the library in what is today the HT Burt Elementary library, says John.
‘She helped set up and organize the books in the school library’it was the first for that school.?
Kier was a member of the Ortonville United Methodist Church for more than 50 years where she was a active with of the Methodist Women’s Club, Mary Narrin Circle, and a long time Sunday school teacher. She also volunteered as a scout leader for both the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, VFW Ladies Auxiliary, athletic boosters, band boosters and for many years participated in the CROP walk. She also was very active at the senior center in Ortonville.
Edna Sutton, 81, a long time Ortonville resident who currently lives in Winterhaven, Fla. lived to next door to Glenn and Martina Kier for more than 40 years.
‘She was a wonderful neighbor, our children grew up together,? said Sutton. ‘She was great to work with at the church. You could always count of Martina, she was always in the kitchen cooking.?
Her grandchildren are Michelle, Chris, Anthony, Aaron and Amber.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m., May 9 at the Ortonville United Methodist Church, 93 Church St., Ortonville. Pastor Suzanne Walls officiating, interment in the Ortonville Cemetery. Memorial donations may be given to either the Ortonville United Methodist Church or the Brandon Township Library.