Martha Nettenbeck receives the Town Hall Medal of the City of Offenbach

The city of Offenbach honors special services by its citizens with the City Hall Medal. The life of Offenbach resident Martha Nettenbeck was characterized by the self-sacrificing care of her two seriously ill children. Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke awarded her the City Hall Medal for this selfless commitment.

Her daughter Ursula, born in 1958, was born with spastic paralysis. Martha Nettenbeck fought to ensure that Ursula could attend a mainstream school, driving and carrying her to class every day, which took place on different floors. Martha Nettenbeck waited in the car outside the school during school hours so that she was always there when she was needed. Thanks to her support, Ursula was able to complete her Abitur and then an apprenticeship in the intermediate civil service at the City of Offenbach. She finally successfully completed the inspector course in 1983.

Martha Nettenbeck's son Thomas, born in 1955, developed severe epilepsy at the age of 14, which had a major impact on his life and that of his family. He died in 2020 at the age of 64 after suffering a stroke. Following the death of their son, Martha and Ursula, who retired from work in 1995 for health reasons, continue to live together in Rumpenheim and support each other. Martha Nettenbeck, who is now in a wheelchair herself, celebrated her 99th birthday on December 18, 2025. On this day, City Councillor Gertrud Marx, Honorary Member of the City Council and Head of Department V, presented her with the award.