Martha Jean Zielen

Martha Jean Haine (Thomas) Zielen, age 99 of Indianapolis passed away on Monday night, February 24, 2025.

Martha was born on November 21, 1925 in Indianapolis, a daughter of Clyde H. Haine Sr. and Adeline (Claghorn) Haine. She is preceded in death by her parents. She is also preceded in death by her brother Clyde Haine Jr.

Martha married William A. Thomas. 

Martha is survived by her two children: Terri (husband Michael) Ford of Indianapolis, and Gary (wife Sandy) Thomas of Wasilla, Alaska.

Five grandchildren: Connie (husband Chad) Holstine, Cindy Woehrel, Nathan (wife Susan) Miller, Trevor (wife Sharon) Thomas, and Sam Thomas.

Many other family members and relatives also survive.

After 28 years of marriage, Martha and William Thomas divorced.

Martha later married Alexander T. Zielen on May 19, 1979. Alexander preceded her in death on January 17, 2017.

Martha was an active woman her whole life.  After graduating from Arsenal Technical High School in 1943, she applied and was accepted for a clerical job with the Civil Service Commission in Washington, D.C. during World Wair II.  

After the war was over, she moved back to Indianapolis where she worked for the Veterans Administration as a Hearing Stenographer on the Rating Board, which job consisted of hearings on disability claims for Veterans returning from Service.  One individual she worked with was Richard E. Roudebush, who at that time was a Representative for the VFW, helping Veterans with their disability claims, and who later became head of the Richard E. Roudebush VA Hospital.  

She married William A. Thomas, a career Navy man, living in various parts of the country, finally settling down in Fort Collins, Colorado where she resided for 46 years.  During her time in Colorado, she was employed by Colorado Department of Employment and for the last 10 years in Colorado was a Court Clerk for Judge Dale E. Shannon in the Eighth Judicial District of Colorado.

Later William A. Thomas and Martha divorced and she was remarried to Alexander T. Zielen.  She then moved back to Indianapolis to be near her daughter Terri and son-in-law Michael Ford, and niece Vicki Hatfield and her husband Jay who resided in Sheridan.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Flanner Buchanan – Memorial Park Funeral Center, located at 9350 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46229.

Her funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM. Chaplain Tom Bartley will officiate.

Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery where Martha will be laid to rest with her husband Alexander Zielen.

Flanner Buchanan - Memorial Park Funeral Center has charge of arrangements.