Martha Foley

Martha Marie Foley was born Sept. 2, 1921 in St. Augusta, Minnesota to Ignatius and Elizabeth (Weyrauch) Henkemeyer and passed away Feb. 13, 2017 in Placerville, California. Martha is survived by her daughter, whom she always referred to as the love of her life, Mary Foley, her nieces Mary Ellen Eilers and Anne (Henkemeyer) Wolke and nephew Eugene Eilers. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Foley, her parents, siblings Florence Eilers, Herbert Henkemeyer, niece Mary Beth (Henkemeyer) Long and her nephew Frederick Eilers. Martha graduated from Cathedral High School in St. Cloud and attended St. Cloud State University. She made her way to El Dorado County in California in 1950 and began working in town at Atwood Insurance, a job she enjoyed very much. Martha was very active with St. Patrick Catholic Church. She participated in the Alter Society and was part of the original group that prepared food for receptions after funerals. Politics ran in Martha’s family. Her father was on the school board and many family members were lawyers. She became very involved in local, state and national politics. She helped get many democrats elected. She worked on Baron Reed’s 1982 congressional steering committee as well as Edward M. Kennedy’s 1980 presidential campaign. Martha’s daughter Mary was one of the top delegates at that year’s Democratic National Convention. Martha was the El Dorado County Democratic Central Committee Treasurer from 1987 to 2008, being re-elected in 1994 and 2006 by many votes. In 2001, she was award the El Dorado County Democrats Central Committee Lifetime Achievement award. Martha was also active in the PTA and being good at math, she obtained a certificate from HR Block. She also enjoy gardening, dancing (she danced with all the Judges), and music. Her family was musically talented and had members in a popular German band in Minnesota.

Donations in Martha’s name may be made to St. Patrick’s Upper Room Dining Hall, 3109 Sacramento St., Placerville, Ca. 95667 or El Dorado County Animal Services, 6435 Capitol Avenue, Diamond Springs, CA 95619

A funeral mass will be held Friday 2/24/2017 at 11:30 (viewing at 10:30, Rosary at 11:00) at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 3109 Sacramento St., Placerville, Ca. Martha will be laid to rest at St. Mary Help of Christians Parish Cemetery, St. Augusta, Minnesota. Arrangements entrusted to Chapel of the Pines Funeral Home, Placerville, CA.