Marti Dlabal (1932-2026)

Marti Dlabal passed away peacefully at Grand Victorian of Sycamore, her home since June of 2022, on Feb. 7, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, and leaving behind a legacy of faith, kindness and devotion to family. 

Marti came into the world on March 13, 1932, in the thick of a roaring north central Kansas blizzard. Dad had just returned from town with Doc by horse-drawn buckboard to the family’s lantern-lit dwelling. Who could possibly imagine what would become of newborn Martha Belle Myers, the youngest of four children born and raised in the boondocks southwest of wee bitty Barnard, Kan.? Her primary company for her formational upbringing would be her hard-working, multi-faceted parents, Minerva and Harley, and three immensely talented older siblings, Thaine, Elaine and Lester. 

Marti Belle thrived under the ongoing tutelage of family. What the home lacked in electricity and plumbing, it more than made up for in know-how and mutual love and cooperation. Marti would prosper and flourish in this rural upbringing, learning to dream and act and farm and garden and sew and knit and crochet and sing and dance and read and write and work handily with numbers. 
She loved making all her clothes with her mother, choosing the prettiest flour sacks from the store on trips to town with dad. Saturday movies, her favorites being musicals and westerns, filled her imagination to act out again and again with her best friend Bonnie in the hills between their homes. Marti cherished her childhood horse, Barney. The two were inseparable. She became a horseman, a fisherman, a marksman, a weather lady. Young Marti learned self-sufficiency that would launch her forward. 

Graduating valedictorian a year early, having secured the lead role in her high school musical, Marti next pursued her teaching degree. What a remarkable lifelong teacher she would become, first and foremost to her immediate family-to-be, as well as the community she would serve from her family home in DeKalb, Ill., for 50-plus years. 

While launching teaching careers at similar times, Marti became immediately intrigued with John, a newcomer visiting teacher at a school sporting event. Mass abandoning all other courtship, the smitten couple launched their 68-plus years marriage in August 1953, dedicating and devoting their future lives to nurturing and raising seven children. What a dynamic couple they would become, John being the oldest of eight siblings and understanding the role it played. Meanwhile, Marti had reaped the advantages of being youngest of four kids, richly loved and educated by older siblings. Between them there wasn’t much they couldn’t accomplish. 

Ever the teacher, Marti, utilized her vast skill set from youth to become a loving and dynamic wife and mother. Her dedication to education kept her husband afloat in securing his educational doctorate and teaching career at NIU in DeKalb. Marti became the secretary and typist and skilled writer, lending a deft hand and mind to all schooling. Her seven children were passionately accompanied and guided to their attained degrees. 

Marti’s talent spread throughout the DeKalb community. She knew the power of MUSIC in the formation of intellect, ingraining it into the lives of her children and 20 beloved grandchildren. A self-taught pianist, her piano lessons served generations of students out of the family home. 
Devoting time for her ever-growing family, Marti cooked, cleaned and played with her children and fascinated grandkids. Her grandchildren loved and adored her company and storytelling. 

She magically appeared to chip in on paper routes, teach games of strategy and fun, complete puzzles, knit and sew and crochet outfits for all, often deep into the night. Weekly trips to DeKalb Library with her covey of kids was a constant. No wonder she was so ever-popular and adored by the little newcomers. They were her greatest joy in later years, all 20. 

Somehow, amongst the chaos of raising her seven children, Marti found time to launch and build a stellar Avon career. Her receptive ear, generosity, sage advice and warm company for those in greatest need far surpassed her profit margins. 

A lover of nature, outdoors and history, Marti was the consummate tour guide on family car trips throughout the 48 contiguous states. Prioritization was given to return visits to rural roots in Kansas. She celebrated the vastness and sheer beauty of America, teaching how it was secured and the fragility of keeping it free and prosperous. Her tolerance of rambunctious family passengers was also to be greatly admired. 

In later years, Marti was gifted with peaceful, romantic vacations alone with her loving husband. How deserved and enjoyed. Her 17 great-grandchildren were magical blessings to fascinate about on a much-repeated basis. 

Devout in her Catholic faith, Marti was a stout believer in miracles. This strength and belief in prayer played HUGE as she witnessed family miracles more than once. She was graced and challenged by the miraculous survival of a tragic fall sustained on a rural vacation in northern Minnesota in June 2000. Marti’s unwavering faith in God and deep love of family sustained her continuance. Her steadfast adoration of ALL FAMILY and her constant prayer for their safety and happiness provided Marti her greatest strength, hope and joy. 

And FOOD. She really, really loved a great meal! 

You had a BIG, BUSY LIFE, MARTI BELLE. You may rest. You did plenty. 

Marti is survived by her seven children: Anita Turner (Rick), Theresa Strawn (Rick), John III (Peggy), Ed (Elaine), Cecelia Marston (Chris), Dan and Dave (Gayle). Also, her 20 beloved grandchildren include Joe (Christina), Genevieve, Will, Keenan (Ann), Anastasia (Ben), Aubrey (Kevin), Amanda (Ryan), Chas (Kaitlin), Johnnie IV, Danielle, Gabrielle (Jacobe), Isabelle, Josh, Jeremy (Dannie), Dylan (Raelena), Savannah (Mitch), Miranda, Maddie (Dawson), Connor (Miley) and Mikey. Lastly, her 17 precious great-grandchildren are Ainsley, Maggie, Ellie, Gracie, Janie, Jack, Pete, Olivia, Layton, Oakley, Kace, Shay, Jay, Ophelia, Gwendolyn, Cerelean and Esme. She is preceded in death by her husband John, her parents, a sister, two brothers and great-granddaughter Grace Noel. 

The family would love to thank Dr. Thakker, the committed staff at Grand Victorian and the Three Oaks Hospice group that provided comfort and support to our amazing mom. 

Visitation will be at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., with rosary at 6:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at Newman Catholic Christ the Teacher University Parish at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. Interment at Fairview Cemetery will follow Mass. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Newman Catholic Student Center or Grand Victorian of Sycamore.