Martha Katherine England Stack was born on April 16, 1934 in Kansas City in a room full of lilacs at Lakeside Hospital. She grew up the only child of Maude and Gilbert England and lived with grandparents in their house on Summit Street during the early depression years.   Her family moved often per Gilbert’s employment and military service, so Martha attended multiple elementary schools. She graduated from Westport High School and also attended Central Missouri State College.

Martha was baptized at Roanoke Baptist Church, and it was at Calvary Baptist Church where she met her future husband John in 1950. They dated 6 years off and on until they married in 1957 in Lubbock Texas, where John was stationed as a pilot in the air force.

Martha, who grew up as “Katie” with a feisty Irish temperament, was welcomed into John’s Swedish family where she gained two sisters-in-law. Martha’s frequent moves growing up prepared her for frequent moves in her married life, from Waco Texas to Topeka Kansas, where daughter Laura was born, back to Kansas City where son Peter was born, to Holland Michigan to San Antonio Texas and ultimately after more than a dozen addresses in 7 different states, settling back home in Overland Park Kansas. 

Martha’s life was full of church activities and children’s activities as well as volunteer and professional service, including the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, Camp Fire Girls, and PEO. She still had time to be an avid reader and member of three book clubs. Martha was a fabulous hostess and enjoyed many years of lake living and sharing 5 different Lake of the Ozarks homes with family and friends for holidays and celebrations.  

Martha was a devout woman of faith. Over the years, she was exposed to multiple denominations which broadened her faith. And through Bible study, she expanded her appreciation of the Old Testament and sharpened her focus on Jesus as the Savior. Martha’s favorite scripture was Psalms 23, acknowledging her Lord as her Shepherd throughout her life.  

On March 10, 2025, Martha entered her eternal home a month shy of 91 at Village Shalom with family at her side. 

Martha is survived by her daughter Laura Stack and son John Peter Stack and her granddaughter Emmanuelle “Emma” and daughter-in-law Jennifer.

Visitation will be at 1 pm with services at 2 pm on Monday March 17 at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 9333 W 159th Street, Overland Park Kansas.  Family graveside services will be held Tuesday March 18 in Enterprise Kansas.