G. Edward Martens

Sibley, IA        Edward Martens, age 92 of Sibley, IA died surrounded by his family on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at the Country View Manor in Sibley, IA.           Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 19, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley with Rev. Barb Kopperud officiating.      Burial will be prior at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley. Visitation will be held Sunday, September 18th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley.        Edward Martens was born April 20, 1924 at Pender, NE the son of William and Bertha (Koopman) Martens. Ed started school at Pender and then his family moved to Sibley where he graduated from Sibley High School in 1942. He was in the United States National Guard. Following his military service, Ed went to work for the Glenn L. Martin plant in Omaha, NE building the B-29 bomber. It is there that he met Millie. They were united in marriage on November 12, 1945 at Omaha. They made their home in Sibley where he developed a Grade A dairy farm. He was a member of the board at AMPI. In 1971, Ed was the first person hired at Chase Bag in Sibley where he worked until he retired in 1988. He was an active member at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley serving on the church counsel for two terms. He enjoyed bowling (300 game) and golfing (hole in one) very much. He loved attending many of his children’s sporting events. Edward loved spending time with his horses. He also enjoyed entering his horses and his tractor in the area parades.           He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Millie of Sibley; their children, Ken (Sandy) Martens of Omaha, NE; Gene (Jann) Martens of Onalaska, WI; Ed (Libby) Martens of Rochester, MN; Randy (Dianne) Martens of Sioux Falls, SD; Gary (Marlene) Martens of Clive, IA; Dan (Gloria) Martens of Mesa, AZ and Karla Shaw of Scottsdale, AZ; along with 17 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild and one sister, Darlene Allanson of Minneapolis, MN.           Edward was preceded in death by his parents, William and Bertha; two brothers, John and William; one sister, Betty Carlson; and daughter-in-law, Kathy Martens.