Loretta Mae Martin

Loretta “Lorry” Mae Martin, 83, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Drumlin Reserve Memory Care in Cottage Grove.

Loretta was born on July 21, 1942, in Berwyn, Illinois, to Anthony (Duke) and Inez Kromray. She graduated from Lyons Township High School in 1960 and went on to earn her degree in home economics and apparel design from Southern Illinois University in 1964.

Growing up she greatly enjoyed animals, horses, and the beautiful farm fields of the Midwest. Her father recognized her gift for mathematics and her talent with her hands, and he instilled in her the importance of education he himself had never had the chance to pursue. Each year, an acre or two of the family land was planted with pumpkins, and it was Loretta's job to harvest and sell them - building her own college fund season by season. She carried that same quiet determination throughout her life.

After graduation, she took a position at Chas. A. Stevens & Co. at the very heart of the Loop in Chicago, working in sales and with store models. The flagship store was the premier destination for women’s fashion in the city, and Loretta rode the train downtown each day with pride. Chicago remained one of her favorite places to visit.

Through mutual family connections, Loretta met her future husband, James. Their first date was New Year's Eve, 1966, and they married the following year at Lyonsville Congregational Church. The couple made their first home in DeKalb, Illinois, where James completed his studies at NIU while Loretta continued her commute to downtown Chicago. They later moved to Wisconsin to start their family, eventually putting down roots in McFarland.

Loretta's aptitude with numbers and organization carried her to work at several banks, an accounting firm, and ultimately at Gerhard's First Supply in Madison. She was a charter member of McFarland United Church of Christ and served faithfully as their financial secretary for nearly two decades.

Throughout her life, Loretta poured her creativity and care into the people around her. She sewed family clothing and wedding dresses and later found great joy in quilting. Her garden was a source of pride and pleasure. She was a devoted caregiver, tending to her Aunt Doris and Uncle Roy and later her mother Inez. She enjoyed travelling throughout her life, starting with road trips along Route 66 with her parents, during summers as a young mom, and a few cherished international adventures.

For everyone who knew her, Loretta was the very best kind of listener. Her greatest joys were being a mother and a grandmother.

Loretta is survived by her daughter Linda, son-in-law Rame, and grandson Hari, as well as her sister-in-law René and nieces Norene and Kristin. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Robert and Eugene; her husband James; and her grandson David.

Services

A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. at McFarland United Church of Christ, 5710 Anthony Street, McFarland, WI, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. A light lunch will be served afterward in the fellowship hall. Loretta and James will be interred together at historic Lyonsville Cemetery, beside the church where they were married.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to staff at Drumlin Reserve and Agrace for their kind and loving care of Loretta in her last months.

Memorial contributions may be made to McFarland United Church of Christ or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.