Service Information
Kenneth “Kenny” Martens, age 87, of Gaylord passed away Thursday, March 18, 2021, at GlenFields Living With Care in Glencoe.
Memorial Service will be Friday, March 26, 2021, 11:00 A.M. at American Lutheran Church in Gaylord with interment in the Gaylord City Cemetery.
Gathering of Family and Friends will be Thursday, March 25, 2021, from 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at American Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday.
Military Honors by the Manthey-Asmus American Legion Post #433.
Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed.
The family flowers are being ordered from Uncle Charlie’s Flowers in Winthrop. 507-647-3044.
There will be a lunch following the service.
Obituary
Kenneth “Kenny” Robert Martens was born on March 28, 1933, in Lake Prairie Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota. He was the son of Ernest and Olga (Von Lehe) Martens. Kenny was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth. He received his education in Le Sueur and was a graduate of the Le Sueur High School Class of 1951.
On December 8, 1956, Kenny was united in marriage to Doris Kuphal at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gaylord. After their marriage the couple farmed in Sibley Township. They were blessed with four children, Vicki, Kevin, Kurt and Julie. Kenny and Doris shared 64 years of marriage.
On December 11, 1956, Kenny entered active military service and served in the United States Army. He achieved the rank of SP4 E4. Kenny was Honorably Discharged on September 11, 1958.
Kenny had his own milk hauling business [cans and bulk] and later was a mechanic at Poquette Massey Ferguson, in addition to being a dairy farmer. He served many years on boards including Sibley County Fair, DHIA, Farm Bureau and church.
August 1991 saw Kenny and Doris move into Gaylord; restlessness led him to a new career. He worked full-time at Waldbaum’s until age 75, while helping his sons farm. He greatly cherished the friendships with a wide range of coworkers that were formed.
Kenny was a member of American Lutheran Church in Gaylord.
Kenny enjoyed playing cards, music, dancing, fishing, telling tall tales and watching his grandchildren’s many activities. He was Santa to many and was a world class Spritz cookie baker. His time playing baseball for Gaylord’s town team and Rush River’s pasture league team were some of his fondest memories.
When Kenny needed assistance with his daily care, he became a resident of GlenFields Living With Care in Glencoe on April 4, 2017, and passed away there on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at the age of 87 years. Blessed be his memory.
Kenny is survived by his:
Wife, Doris Martens of Gaylord, MN;
Children, Vicki Benrud and her husband, Jerry of Amboy, MN,
Kevin Martens of Gaylord, MN,
Kurt Martens and his wife, Mari Lu of Gaylord, MN, and
Julie Martens of Bloomington, MN;
Grandchildren, Daniel (Kristi) Benrud, Krista (Ricardo) Ramirez, Jennifer Jackson, Jessica (Jon) Wagner, Ashley (Justin) Luskey, Kelli Martens, Anthony Martens and his fiancé, Chantal Legand, Diana (Peter) Brown;
16 Great grandchildren;
Brother, David Martens and his wife, Kay of Buffalo, MN;
Sister-in-law, JoAnn Martens of Le Sueur, MN;
Nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Kenny was preceded in death by his Parents, Ernest and Olga Martens; Brother, Donald Martens.
Gerald Ide says
Doris you have my Sympathy!