Marietta Ann Holden died on May 27, 2025 at Hiawatha.
She was born November 12, 1932, near Highland, Kansas to Everett and Gladys (Bingman) Holden. She graduated from Highland High School, Highland Community College and Westmar College, LeMars, Iowa. She completed graduated work at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, and became a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association Registry. She was a licensed Registered Occupational Therapist in the State of Kansas.
Her career was divided between developing and supervising occupational therapy departments in health care facilities and teaching occupational therapy in academics. Marietta was Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City. In addition to teaching she scheduled student internships for their fifth year of study. She also was Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, College of Liberal Arts, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. She was chairman of the Committee on Tenure, Occupational Therapy Department, College of Allied Health, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas.
She developed and supervised occupational therapy departments at Creighton Memorial Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska, Oakdale Hospital, University of Iowa, the Mental Health Institute, Cherokee, Iowa, Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa, The Bennessere Center for Depression, Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas.
Marietta held the office of director of Therapeutic and Social Services at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She was responsible for eight therapy departments, Medical Records Department and Social Services Department. While there she assisted in the development of the L.E. Phillips Rehabilitation Unit and for several years was coordinator of the unit.
After retirement Marietta worked part time at the Rehabilitation Department, Lawrence Memorial Hospital working in the skilled nursing unit and in the work hardening program.
Marietta was a member of the United Methodist Church, was a sixty year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. While living in Lawrence she was a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, the League of Women Voters, the Altrusa Club of Lawrence, Business and Professional Women and the Kansas University Women Club. In Iowa she was a member of the Iowa Occupational Therapy Association and held all four offices. In Hiawatha, she was a member of the Brown County Genealogical Society. She was editor of the newsletters of several organizations. Marietta dearly loved the out-of-doors, enjoyed camping, was an avid reader, and enjoyed painting in water color.
She is survived by two nephews, Greg Winchester (Jeanette), Terre Haute, IN and William Joseph Holden (Cathy), Weir, KS, and four nieces, Mary Ellen Bryan (Dan), Chillicothe, MO, Sandra Feurerbacher (Wayne), Silver Lake, KS, Sharon Winchester Dunn (Ralph), Alma, KS, and Marietta Winchester Lowhorn (Roy), Topeka, KS.
Marietta was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Ellen Winchester Land, two brothers, Melvin Holden and William Holden, and one nephew, Marc Winchester.
A Celebration of Marietta’s Eternal Life is planned for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha. Shane Spangler will officiate. Inurnment will take place at a later date at the Highland Cemetery.
Friends may sign the register book Thursday and Friday until 4:30 p.m. The family will meet with friends one half hour prior to services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Brown County Genealogical Society left in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., 66434.
