10/20/2013
Ted Lee Mart, age 86, of Knoxville, passed away Sunday evening, October 20, 2013, at the Knoxville hospital & Clinics of Knoxville.
Ted was born at home on the family farm just three miles south of Knoxville, Iowa, on April 22, 1927, the son of Dwight B. and M. Irene (Schlotterback) Mart.
Ted was raised in the Knoxville area and graduated from Knoxville High School, Class of 1944. After graduating at the age of 17, Ted enlisted in the United States Army Air Force. He served his country from 1945 to 1947, during the end of WWII.
After his service, Ted attended Drake University for two years. He then worked with the VA Hospital for a short time before working at the Knoxville Post Office. Ted was a local mail carrier for several years before becoming a rural mail carrier. He was a rural mail carrier until his retirement.
On May 11, 1949, at the Little Brown Church in the Vail in Nashua, Iowa, Ted and Phyllis Julienne Descamps were united in marriage. Ted and Phyllis shared 64 years of marriage before Ted’s passing and were blessed with three children, Sheri, Lori, and Kevin.
Ted was active all his life. He bought, restored, and sold over thirty planes during his pilot career. He was also a hot-air balloon pilot. Ted was a member of the E.A.A., the experimental pilots association, and The Balloon Federation of America. Ted and Phyllis raised their family in Knoxville. As empty nesters, they lived in the Des Moines area, Monroe, and most recently had just returned to Knoxville.
Ted is survived by his wife, Phyllis Mart of Knoxville; his children, Sheri Pettit of Bloomfield, Lori (Stan) Peterson of Knoxville, and Kevin (Debra) Mart of West Des Moines; seven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. Ted is also survived by his sister, Judy (Ken) Doty of New Sharon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dwight and M. Irene Mart.
Visitation for Ted will begin at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 22, 2013, at the Winfield Funeral Home in Knoxville, with Ted’s family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday evening.
Funeral services for Ted will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 23rd, at the Winfield Funeral Home, with Pastor Andrew Schmidt officiating. Burial with military honors will follow services at Graceland Cemetery of Knoxville.
A memorial has been established to the HCI Hospice Care Services of Knoxville. Condolences may be sent to www.winfieldfh.com.
The Winfield Funeral Home of Knoxville is assisting Ted’s family with services.