Martha Jo Grubbs Burnau, age 82, of Burns, Tenn., breathed her last breath here and entered into new life with her Lord on March 28, 2025, at 6:43 p.m. in her home holding her husband Don’s hand surrounded by loved ones, after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia.
She was born on Feb. 10, 1943, in Warsaw, to the late Harvey Grubbs and Wreatha Boyer Grubbs.
Martha, Mom, Grandma, Aunt Martha, whichever name she carried for you, it was all synonymous with belonging and love. Hospitality was her love language, ever at the ready with a smile, a hug, a “Come on in” and a seat at her table. A devoted wife to Don, the love of her life for 63 plus years, they would travel to nearly every state in America and most Provinces of Canada often with, or on their way to family and friends. Martha devoted her life to raising children and loved to entertain their friends. Any child or young person who entered her home referred to her simply as “Mom” and knew to be at the ready for any moment, the call might ring out, “Mom is making chocolate chip cookies!” an invitation to come and fill the house with joy and laughter. Martha loved to fish and would giggle with glee when, inevitably, some unsuspecting fish was irresistibly drawn to her hook while everyone else looked on fishless.
She loved to sing and to laugh and to love. She was the first one to drop everything to come to the aid of friends and family in times of sickness, loss or need. The delight of her life was her grandchildren. When Feron was born, she was wrapped and swooped and joyfully celebrated with waiting loved ones nearly before her mother had a chance to hold her! And so, she loved each one with great affection. She adored each niece and nephew as if they were her very own and the feeling, we know is mutual. Martha loved Jesus and during a brief rally in the last weeks of her life, she asked each one who came to her side two questions: Will I see you in Heaven? Do you know Jesus? One evening she preached the most encouraging message of fighting in Jesus and winning the victory! And so, she has.
Survivors are her husband, Don Burnau, of Burns, Tenn.; her children: Liz Wall (Chris), of Dickson, Tenn.; Marianne Moschella (Vince), of Sarasota, Fla.; and John Burnau, of Spartanburg, S.C.; her sisters, Violet Unruh and Elaine Ellis, both of Warsaw; her grandchildren: Alex Gibbs (Anna), of Inman, S.C.; Feron Wall of Nashville, Tenn.; Braden Wall (Abby), of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Nathan Wall, of Clarksville, Tenn.; and her great-grandchildren: Emmie Gibbs, Boone Gibbs and Price Gibbs.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Angela Elaine Burnau; her brothers, Raymond Grubbs and Glen Grubbs; and sister, Doris Call.
At McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, a visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, April 7. Funeral services will follow at noon in the chapel.
A funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, April 3 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of the Taylor Funeral Home in Dickson, Tenn.. Visitation will be held from noon to2 p.m.
Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.
For those desiring, memorial contributions are suggested to the Kinsman Redeemer Homeless Ministry, P.O. Box 284, Charlotte, TN 37036.
To sign the guestbook or send a condolence to the family please visit www.mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.