Martin C. J. Scherb

Martin Conrad John Scherb was born January 22, 1920 in Nunda Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota to Bernhardt and Maria (Obermeyer) Scherb.  He was baptized at Concordia Bear Lake Lutheran Church by Reverend Eckoff.  He received three years of instruction and was confirmed at Bear Lake church on September 2, 1934 by Reverend William Neumann.  He attended Freeborn County country school district #42 and graduated from Emmons High School in 1937.  Martin farmed with his parents near Bear Lake until January 1948, when he attended Lincoln Welding School in Cleveland, Ohio.  Following school, he worked for the Dopplehammer brothers in Conger, Minnesota as a blacksmith and welder for three years.  On May 30, 1950, he was united in marriage with Mabel Beiser at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Conger by his uncle Rev. George Obermeyer assisted by Rev. Rudolph Inselmann.  They were the first couple married in their newly chartered church. The couple lived in Conger for 1 ½ years and then in Albert Lea for 1 ½ years.  In early 1951, Martin began work at Universal Milking Machine Company as a heli-arc welder for two years.  Martin and Mabel moved to rural Kiester on March 1, 1953 and farmed there five years.  On February 1, 1958, the family moved to a farm they purchased south of Kiester and farmed there until his retirement.  After 38 years on their farm, they moved back to Albert Lea in 1996.  

Martin was a life-long, faithful member of several Lutheran churches, including St. Paul’s and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Kiester and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.  He served many years on the church council in Kiester, including as council president for three years at St. Paul’s.  He taught Sunday School for 30 years at Bear Lake, St. John’s (Walters, MN), St. Paul’s and Our Savior’s (Kiester) Lutheran churches.  He helped start the Men’s Prayer Breakfasts in Kiester, and was an active member of The Gideons International for over 40 years.  Martin was widely appreciated for his unquestionable integrity, devotion to family and unwavering faith.  

Martin enjoyed his family and friends, as well as woodworking, photography, antique machinery, welding, traveling and gardening.  In spite of cardiac surgery and over 30 years of heart disease, Martin traveled extensively throughout the United States, and made two trips to Europe to locate German relatives.  

Survivors include his children  Rosella (Ray) Hanson, Sioux Falls, SD, Barbara (Tom Fuller) Scherb, Franklin, NC, Timothy (Mary) Scherb, Valley Springs, SD, and Cynthia (John) Stumpf, Bella Vista, AR;  grandchildren, Catherine Parrin, Sioux Falls, SD, Michael Hanson, Mitchell, SD, and Jacob and Carly Scherb, Valley Springs, SD; and one great-grandchild, Madeline Rose Parrin, Sioux Falls, SD; sisters-in-law Phyllis and Janet Scherb and Marjorie and Marvel Beiser of Albert Lea, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Martin was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his son-in-law Larry Mitchell, one sister, Irma Hagen, and five brothers, Paul, Philip, Lucas, Julius and Eldo, brothers-in-law Fred and William Beiser, sisters-in-law Mildred Scherb, Marjorie Scherb, Grace Beiser, Phyllis Beiser and nephew Gregory Scherb.