Martha Washington Uselman

Uselman, Martha Branley MONONA-My name is Martha Branley Uselman, and I have lived a very rich and fulfilling life. At 94, I passed away peacefully at my home in Monona, on Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, after a short battle with cancer. I was born on Feb. 22, 1917, in Eagle Bend, Minn., to Clarence and Jenny Alfred. At the age of three, my family moved to Blanchardville to farm. It was a simple life of hard work, family values and community. After graduating from high school, I moved to Madison and was employed as a nanny. On a beautiful summer evening, I attended a dance at Olin Park where I met Wallace “Wally” Branley. We danced the night away and into marriage where we raised five children, David, Sharon, Susan, John and Lynn. I was a stay- at- home mom who worked as a seamstress. I sewed everything from bridal gowns to airplane curtains, waitress outfits for Ishnala in Wisconsin Dells and the Hoffman House, as well as clothes for my family. In between family life, I enjoyed playing cards, bowling, and some golf. Wally preceded me in death on April 28, 1985. We were married 47 years. I later met Melvin “Mel” Uselman, and we married on Aug. 7, 1987, at St. James Catholic Church in Madison. Together, we enjoyed traveling, fishing, playing cards and going to the casino. Three-card poker was my game! Mel preceded me in death on June 9, 2010. We were married 22 years. I am survived by my five children, David Branley of Madison, Sharon (Robert) Jorgensen of Oregon, Susan (Jack) Topoleski of Henderson, Nev., John (Kathy) Branley of Lodi and Lynn (Terry) Cook of Morro Bay, Calif; my brother, Virgil (Beverly) Alfred of Monona; four stepchildren, Ruth Dorn of San Diego, Calif., Kathy (Ronald) Anderson of Tempe, Ariz., Julie (Rob) Wold of Hartland, and Sharon Uselman of Chicago, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Lisa (Dave) Gundlach, Julie (Lee) Ekstrom, Jeffrey (Susan) Topoleski, Gregg Topoleski, Sam Topoleski, Katie Branley and Nicole Branley; five great-grandchildren, Erika Gundlach, Jake Gundlach, Jenna Ekstrom, Christopher Topoleski and Max Topoleski; four step-grandchildren, Chris (Jen) Wold, Geoff (Katie) Wold, Lydia Anderson and Ben Anderson; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. I was preceded in death by my parents, Clarence and Jenny Alfred; first husband, Wallace Branley; second husband, Melvin Uselman; granddaughter, Jill Jorgensen; step-grandson, Joseph Anderson; my brothers, Clayton and Boyd Alfred; and my sisters, Ethel Jackson and Marjorie Cleary. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, with Father Bart Timmerman presiding. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m until 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, 2011, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare Inc. or Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. I wish to thank my wonderful children for their undying love and the wonderful care they provided me at the end of my life, and also the people at HospiceCare who are angels in disguise. Cemetery: Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare Inc. or Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, with Father Bart Timmerman presiding.