Obituary of Martha Jane Dobratz

MARTHA J. DOBRATZ

March 20, 1945 - May 18, 2025

Martha Dobratz, 80, passed away on May 18th after complications following a stroke. Born in Minnesota, and raised in Iowa, Martha attended Waldorf College, and Concordia College in Moorehead, where she earned a BA in Education. She moved to the Twin Cities to teach, which is where she met her husband (Dave) and raised her family.

Martha is survived by her daughters Niki Dobratz, Megan Dobratz and Kara (Ben) Braun, and was Nana to her beloved grandson’s Wyatt, Porter, Henrik and Easton Braun. She was the oldest of four children, and is survived by Tom Gjelten (Martha), Dan Gjelten (Lisa) and Enid Weichselbaum, and nephews Arne Gjelten, Jake Genachowski (Karen), Ben Weichselbaum, and niece Greta Willams.

Martha lived an amazing life full of travel, friends, family and community. She will be remembered for being welcoming to all, being quick to smile, and for her love of nature. She passed peacefully surrounded in love by her family and friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN on Wednesday, May 28th (visitation at 10a, service at 11a). In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Friends of the Boundary Waters or N.C. Little Hospice.