Obituary
Martha Johanna (Storruste) Kolln, aged 91, died August 17, 2024.
She was kind and generous and beloved by all who knew her.
Martha was born October 26, 1932 in Silverton Oregon to the
late Michael and Jenny (Grunwald) Storruste. Martha attended Silverton High
School, where she met Jack Kolln, the man to whom she would be married for 73
years, until his death in July of this year.
Martha and Jack started their family in Oregon, later moving
to California and eventually to State College. A mother of four, Martha found
the time to Graduate Penn State with a Master’s degree and embark on a
successful and rewarding career not only in teaching at Penn State, but also in
the world of publishing. Her most widely-known textbooks, “Understanding
English Grammar” and “Rhetorical Grammar” are still being used in classrooms to
this day.
Martha is survived by three of her children, Barbara, Tim
and John. Her eldest daughter, Kristi, recently passed and will also be missed.
Martha was also loved by her four grandchildren, Jason DiClemente, Kristi Di
Clemente, Jeannine Kolln, Ella Kolln, and her two great granddaughters, Isabel
and Samantha DiClemente.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 29, 2024
at 1:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 780 Waupelani Dr., State
College, PA 16801. Private inurnment will take place at Centre County Memorial
Park at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Martha’s honor to
the Mid-State Literacy Council.
An online guestbook may be signed and condolences left for
the family at www.hakygeorgianafh.com