Elsa S. Martin's Obituary
Elsa Simon Martin, the daughter of Arthur Simon and Karolina Wasmer Simon, was born in Basel, Switzerland March 6, 1920. She lived in Switzerland until she was nine years old, part of the time with her grandparents, after her father began the family’s emigration to the United States in 1928.Elsa, her sister Martha, and her mother came to San Pedro, California in 1929 and were reunited with their father. Times were difficult and they moved a number of times, first to Little Rock, California; then on to Palmdale, Lancaster, and San Diego, where she attended Logan Heights Elementary. From there, they moved to Bostonia and then El Cajon where she attended Grossmont High School. During this time she helped her father with his job of tending citrus orchards; she spoke of getting up in the middle of the night to light smudge pots when it got too cold. While growing up, although she liked pretty dresses and fancy shoes, she was also something of a tomboy. Her father allowed her to play with his hammers, nails and saws; she built herself a clubhouse, in which she would play for hours. She also helped her dad overhaul the engine of the family car.In 1936, she married Frank Lueke and had two sons – Frank Arthur, born in 1938 and Edward John, born in 1940. Edward died in his first year of pneumonia. Elsa’s marriage to Frank ended in1944. To support herself and her young son, she began working for Ryan Aeronautical, cataloging plans during the war. She also taught herself to type in order to get a pay raise.Elsa married Willard Martin in 1946, the beginning of 51 years of happy marriage. She became a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. Elsa worked for a car dealership after the war until her daughter Darla Kay was born in 1950. For most of the rest of her life she was a homemaker.Elsa acquired many skills during the course of her life. She was an accomplished cook and baker. Known for her flaky pie crusts and flavorful cakes, she began baking astounding cakes for friends and relative’s weddings, birthdays, and special occasions. She was often asked to bake cakes professionally, but steadfastly refused. As a young girl, she taught herself to sew. She made intricate garments for Darla – from baby clothes to wedding gowns. She knitted complicated sweaters and did beautiful crochet work. She even terraced the back yard of her home on Gateway Drive with river rocks she harvested herself! She also supervised the construction of a large fish pond in the yard and helped the next door neighbor put up a brick wall to hide their pool pump. Along the way, Elsa continued her service to others by delivering library books to shut-ins, a service that she performed for eight years. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for the Church of Christ congregations on El Cajon Blvd, First and Thorn, and in Allied Gardens.She doted on her grandsons Frank Jr. and Mike and on their children in turn. After her husband Willard retired, the two of them undertook remodeling their home, doing all of the planning and a large part of the work themselves. Then they bought a motor home, leaving their newly remodeled home to travel extensively and frequently across the country – most often in the company of the Starkeys and Vaughns. Elsa liked to fish and the motor home could often be found near a local lake.Her final years were difficult as she suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, which slowly and frustratingly robbed her of her many skills. Elsa S. Martin died on Wednesday June 29, 2011 at 3:40 p.m. with family at her side at the Grossmont Gardens Retirement Community. She is survived by one son – Frank A. Lueke of San Diego, CA and one daughter, Darla K. Cook of Napa, CA. She is also survived by two grandsons: Frank A. Lueke Jr. of Colorado Springs, CO and Michael S. Lueke of San Diego, CA, and her great grandchildren – Jillian A. Lueke, Brandon J. Lueke and Shivaun A. Lueke of Colorado Springs and Amanda E. Lueke and Maxwell H. Lueke of San Diego, CA.She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard D. Martin; one son, Edward J. Lueke; two sisters, Elizabeth and Martha; and her parents Arthur and Karolina Simon.Services were conducted by Donald L. Starkey, DD at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary in San Diego California.
What’s your fondest memory of Elsa?
What’s a lesson you learned from Elsa?
Share a story where Elsa's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Elsa you’ll never forget.
How did Elsa make you smile?