Martha Droski

Martha was part of what we all know as “The Greatest Generation.” That generation went from the wealth of the 20's, to the financial despair of the 30's and onto the rage of a lengthy war where every family was touched by sacrifice. Martha's life reads like a novel of those times.

Martha Linnea was the first born of two Swedish immigrants Gustaf Robert and Anna Louisa Carlson. Both parents came to the United States from Sweden, met and married in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Martha was born on June 7, 1920, and two weeks after her birth the Carlson's moved into their first home at 655 Shawmut. The new family was surrounded by several immigrated family members Gustaf's two sisters and Anna had an uncle and an aunt in Grand Rapids. Anna's brother Gustaf Levin immigrated later to Grand Rapids from Sweden.

In 1922 the family grew and added another daughter, Margaret Violet, to their home. Martha and Margaret would be forever connected. In 1925, a son was born and named Robert Gustaf, fondly called Bob.

The family lived in the heart of the Swedish community. Where the Viking Hall was the center of activity and friends such as the Andersons, Olsons, Fransons and even more Carlsons became family. As automobiles were scarce in those days, walking was the only means of transportation on many occasions. This added to the closeness of the neighborhood community. The family walked to a nearby Baptist church for Sunday school where Martha's deep faith was born. Family trips were mainly to Myers Lake or Grand Haven. On one camping vacation with friends, the families placed their model T's in a line and draped large blankets between them to make tents. The kids ran free, the men fished and women prepared food over an open fire pit. Simple days but filled with fond memories.

As Martha reached school age, her shyness became prevalent in her lack of attendance. Her Dad didn't help as he often walked her to school and as she got closer to the building she would complain of a stomachache and her Dad promptly turned them around and took her home. She always considered him a “softie.” Her shyness followed her throughout her life and added to her reserve personality.

Their family was blessed more than others as the years unfolded into the Depression years. Gustaf was a gifted machinist by trade and as Martha always said “was never without work” during those hard years. Although the family practiced many conservative measures, they were considered lucky by many standards. These conservative values would be practiced in many ways during Martha's life.

In the winter of 1932, Herbert Henning was added to the family. Martha was 12 years old and loved having a baby brother to mother. Their family was complete. Martha kept a diary on and off during her teen years. It describes a life of school, friends and many walks to the ice cream parlor and an occasional movie. Life at home was spent listening to the radio during the evening. The Green Hornet was often a favorite.

One of Martha's favorite stories is how she met her husband and love of her life...Ben. Martha graduated from Union High in 1939. She then worked at Peterson's Book Store on Bridge Street across the street from the local Post Office. Ben worked at Kennedy's Barber Supply down the street from Peterson's and would need to go daily to the Post Office. Martha on occasion, needed to go to this same Post Office. This is where Ben saw Martha and struck up a conversation. At some point Ben went into Peterson's Book Store and asked Martha to help him pick out a greeting card. She did, and days later received this same card in the mail asking her for a date. Their first date in March 1940 was a stroll at John Ball Park followed by ice cream. Many dates followed until WWII entered their lives.

Ben was drafted into the Army in March of 1941. He went to Battle Creek and onto Ft. Riley in Kansas where he was placed in the cavalry. He traveled to Hoover Dam next and onto San Francisco as an MP. All during this time, many letters were shared between them. Ben wrote daily and even had a Swedish pocket translation dictionary to write to Martha's relatives. Ben was considered a part of the family by then and while on leave from San Francisco in November 1942 he proposed. The engagement was welcomed. He then asked Martha to join him in San Francisco.

In January 1943 she quit her job at the loan company where she worked at the time and took the train to California. Ben had an apartment ready for Martha. Martha went looking for a job at various locations. She went to the phone company as sister Margaret worked there back in Grand Rapids. Martha found employment and worked there for her entire stay in California. She later transferred to the phone company in Grand Rapids when she returned in November of 1943 to start planning their wedding for the summer of 1944.

Their wedding was on Wednesday, June 21, 1944. Ben was home on leave for only a few days. The wedding was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church with a reception at the Carlson family home on West Leonard. They had a short weekend honeymoon in Chicago, and Ben left on the Sunday train leaving Martha with only his hat. Martha returned home to Grand Rapids, worked, wrote many letters, and listened to every news report available. Ben would be shipped overseas in 1944 and participated as an MP in various aspects of the war, including the Battle of the Bulge.

During this time and after graduation from high school, brother Bob, a 19-year-old enlisted in the Air Force doing what he loved...flying. His skills offered him the position of navigator on a B-24. He returned home in full uniform for Christmas 1944. Martha still has his Christmas gift to her...a leather zippered manicure set. After going to bed on Christmas night, she had the strongest feeling to retrieve Bob's gift tag. She went through the trash to find it, and today still has this gift tag securely zippered in the manicure case. The 1944 Christmas family portrait was the last which included Bob. He was tragically lost over France in April 1945. The Carlson household joined many others who displayed a gold star in their window.

Ben finally returned home in January 1946. Ben and Martha didn't waste any time quickly packing and headed west to California for a long-awaited trip. Married life together was finally realized. They returned to Grand Rapids, got an apartment, and Ben found work ironically at the Post Office. In December 1948 they celebrated the birth of their first child, Timothy Ronald, named after Tiny Tim in Dickens A Christmas Carol. Life continued, and more children entered the family. Carol Ann was born in June 1953, and Sandra Lynn was born in November 1955. Martha remained in the home raising the children, which was her greatest joy. Her sister Margaret's family grew in tandem, so they shared many family activities together. There were many birthdays to celebrate and every holiday in between. Summer shared vacations to Wolf Lake were a highlight. The sisters frequently had a race to see who could wash their child's diapers the fastest to get down to the lake. Margaret was the frequent winner.

Life rolled along and as the family gained independence, Martha would enjoy joining a golf and bowling league. She was also involved in church women's circles and other projects when needed.

Martha's life took a turn when Ben was diagnosed with Parkinson's only months after his retirement in 1976. Together they faced the physical and later mental conditions of this disease. Carefree retirement life was cut short. They traveled to Florida and yearly army reunions as long as they could. Martha was the sole caretaker of Ben for many years until her efforts were lost to the disease's progression. Ben was moved to a nursing facility for constant care. This separation was a difficult decision for her... to put her own needs above her devotion to Ben. After his death in 1998, Martha surrounded herself with family, grandchildren, and friends.

Life is never certain and tragedy struck again in 2015 with the premature death of Martha's daughter Carol from cancer. Although her heart was flooded with sorrow, she never resorted to anger or bitterness. It was not easy to accept this fate, but Martha always turned to God to give her the strength to persevere. She relied on her faith to give her understanding and courage to move forward. She was a believer things happened for a reason and more importantly that God was always watching over her.

In her later years when self-care was not an option, Martha graciously gave up her home and the independence it provided to become a resident of Resthaven Cottages in Holland, Michigan. It is there she was able to share her love with those around her whether staff or fellow residents. All who knew her could feel her warmth and genuine love. She was always a source of comfort for family, friends, and even strangers. She felt that if she could bring a smile to someone's face, she would be fulfilled. Martha was a private person and considered herself not much of a talker which meant she was on the other side of a conversation...the designated listener. This gave her perspective when listening to others, and she always remarked “every life has a story” and what a life Martha experienced.

Her story spans a time in history that many only read about.

Martha Linnea Droski, age 105, entered her heavenly home on April 4, 2026. Martha was born June 7, 1920 in Grand Rapids to the late Gustaf and Anna (Levin) Carlson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Droski; a daughter, Carol VanderClay; a grandson, Andrew Droski; and her siblings, Margaret & Carl Newberg, Robert Carlson, and Herbert & Bonnie Carlson. Martha was a longtime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She loved making crafts for others, crocheting and sewing. She was an avid golfer and bowler, but mostly she loved being a wife, mother, grandmother. Martha is survived by her children, Tim (Joni) Droski and Sandy (Louis) Czewski; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Kevin) Lowther, Eric (Morgan) Droski, Bob (Amanda) VanderClay, Jennifer (Jon) Hallmark, Mark (Linda) VanderClay, Justin (Angie) Czewski, Jared Czewski; great grandchildren, Bryce, Brody, Will, Calum, Violet, Camille, Jacob, Elliot, Harper; and many nieces and nephews. According to her wishes, cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 2 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Friends may visit beginning at 1 PM and following the service with refreshments. Interment will be in Rosedale Memorial Park. Martha’s family would like to thank Resthaven Maple Woods in Holland, for the compassionate care offered their mother. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hospice of Holland. To read more of Martha’s Life Story, leave a memory or sign the guestbook, please visit www.hertiagelifestory.com.