Obituary of John Martens

MARTENS – John of Swift Current, SK (formerly of Waldeck, SK) passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, June 20, 2011 at the age of 84. He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 56 years, Katherine (Tina); his daughters, Sandi (Pete) Klassen, Sharon (Laird) Wilms, Ruby (Jack) Hammer; sons, Neil (Bonnie), Gord (Ardis), Ivan (Shelly), Al (Paula), Len (Brenda) and Darcy (Cindy); 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers, Abe Martens, Cornie (Doreen) Martens; sister Tina (Walt) Klimosko; sister-in-law, Betty Martens, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; John (Mary) Wiebe, Corny (Mary) Wiebe, Susan (John) Klassen, Ann Schlamp, Betty (Ike) Giesbrecht and many nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his parents, Jacob and Maria; brothers Jim, Pete and a brother in infancy; sisters Elizabeth, Mary, Helen, Agatha, Ann, Elizabeth and 2 sisters in infancy; brothers –in-law, Jake Knelsen, Abe Friesen, Oswald Schwartz; sister-in-law, Sue Martens; father-in-law and mother-in-law Cornelius and Katherina Wiebe, brothers-in-law Jake Wolfe, Jake Olfert, George Rempel, Larry Wiebe; sisters-in-law, Mary Rempel, Helen Olfert as well as several nieces and nephews. John was born on October 11, 1926 in the McMahon district to Jacob and Maria Martens. He attended school at Braddock, Waymark and Dunelm. He was married to Tina (Wiebe) on October 19, 1954 and they were blessed with 9 wonderful children. John had various jobs throughout his life, he worked with the CPR, he was a mechanic, a trucker, and his final job was with the hospital for 24 years. After retirement he worked for the village of Waldeck and served on the Waldeck Council for many years. He also was a member of the Golden Age Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing fastball. He was known as Johnny the Back Catcher and in his golden years, you would find him wherever a ball game was being played. He spent many weekends with his family taking them to rodeos, car races, camping and playing activities throughout his life, everything from mechanical work, flooding the ice and umping his children’s ball games. Highlights in his life were the many bus tours, especially the trip to Alaska. He enjoyed laughter with family, jokes with friends and a good western book. John will be greatly missed by his family and friends. We especially will miss his great sense of humor, his story telling and the “love taps”. A funeral service was held on Friday, June 24, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Sommerfeld Mennonite Church with Reverend Abe Funk officiating. The pallbearers were his six sons. Donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or to the Saskatchewan Lung Association in memory of John Martens. For further information or to sign the family book of condolences, visit our website at www.parksidefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were in care of Parkside Memorial Funeral Home.