Kenneth Edward Martens

     Kenneth Edward Martens was born in Sibley, Iowa on June 5, 1946 to his parents, Edward and Mildred Martens. He died January 22, 2018 at his winter home in Arizona after courageously battling Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer for nearly two years.

     Often referring to himself as an "Iowa farm boy", Ken loved to convey farm stories of his adolescent years, often with the hope to evoke compassion, but more often it was good humor and laughter that prevailed. He loved to share his version of working hard on the family dairy farm and life with five brothers and a sister.  

     He graduated from Sibley High School in 1964, and attended The University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. After serving in the US Navy and being honorably discharged, he returned to Sibley, Iowa where he had been an associate owner and manager of the Sibley Shoebox since 1970. He became its sole owner in 1976.

     After high school, Ken became interested in golf and often competed against his two oldest brothers in tournaments. In the Navy he was a member of both the golf and bowling teams and won awards for both. While still in his twenties, Ken was an accomplished softball player and he continued to participate in bowling tournaments for many years. During his golfing years, he achieved 13 hole-in-ones and, his personal favorite, a 530 yard par five, double eagle. 

     After selling his shoe business, he became an orthopedic sales representative in Minneapolis, MN for Richards Orthopedics. In 1982 he continued as an orthopedic sales representative for another company, eventually becoming its regional sales manager. In 1984 he married his wife, Sandy, and in 1987, became owner and principal of his own orthopedic distribution company, TriMar Medical, Inc., which represented primarily Stryker Orthopedic implant products. 

     In 1994 Ken retired and enjoyed many winters playing golf as a member of PGA West Country Club in La Quinta, CA. In the summers he would return to Minneapolis where he spent time with good friends at the golf clubs of Olympic Hills and Spring Hill. After moving to Sioux Falls, SD in 2002, where he had also lived in the early eighties, he rejoined Westward Ho Country Club and reconnected with good friends. During his Sioux Falls years he became a proud grandfather (Papa) and was a constant and admired figure in their lives. In 2013 he and his wife left their California winter home and joined Tonto Verde Golf Club in Arizona.  In 2015 they moved from Sioux Falls to Omaha to continue to be near family.

     During his last few years in Sioux Falls, Ken felt fortunate to become an assistant golf coach for Doug Rinken, Head Boys Golf Coach for Washington High School.  Ken was a devoted grandpa and his passion was being with his grandkids as they learned and participated in various sports. Becoming an assistant coach seemed a natural fit when his oldest grandson became part of the high school golf team. A few months after moving to Omaha, Ken was diagnosed with cancer. The Washington golf team and coach continuously paid tribute to Ken at important tournaments with cancer ribbons on hats, "Play for Ken" tee shirts and poker chip ball markers with his silhouette on one side and "We Ken" on the other. In his last year, he received a Distinguished Service award presented by the South Dakota High School Coaches Association. 

     Grateful for his love and devotion and remembering him fondly and proudly are his wife of 33 years, Sandy; his daughter, Keri (Bryan) Couet, grandsons Brennan, Conner, Blake, and Kane Couet; his wife's son, Michael (Angela) Conrath, granddaughter Melia Conrath; his Mother, Mildred Martens; brothers, Gene (Jann), Ed (Libby), Randy (Dianne), Gary (Marlene) and Dan; sister Karla Shaw; and sister-in-law, Midge West. His father, Edward Martens, preceded him in death in 2016.

     A memorial to honor Ken will be June 23, 2018, at 11:30 in Sibley, Iowa at Trinity Lutheran Church, 704 Poplar Dr. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Melanoma Research, a charity of your choice, or to Trinity Lutheran Church.