Martens, Gustav B. (1895-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Apr 4 p. 5

Birth date: 1895 Mar 17

text of obituary:

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• A heart attack suffered at his home here shortly before 7 a.m. Wednesday claimed the life of Gus B. Martens, 68. He was a native of the Inman community and a retired farmer. Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the First Mennonite Church, of which he was a member, with Rev. Arnold Epp in charge. Burial will be made in the South Inman Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Mary, and a daughter, Lois, of the home; another daughter, Mrs. Phil Thiesen [sic Thiessen] of Hutchinson; three sons, Walter and Victor of Halstead and Melvin of Hesston; one sister and three brothers.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Apr 11 p. 5

text of obituary:

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• Funeral services for Gustav B. Martens, 68, were held at the First Mennonite Church on Saturday forenoon, with Rev. Arnold Epp in charge. Burial was made in the South Inman cemetery. Mr. Martens died at his home here April 3 after suffering a heart attack. He farmed in the Inman community until moving to Newton about 10 years ago.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 May 9 p. 8

text of obituary:

GUSTAV B. MARTENS

Gustav B. Martens, son of John and Anna Balzer Martens, was born March 17, 1895 on a farm near Inman, Kan. He received his schooling at the South Inman School and the Hoffnungsau Academy. In his youth he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized upon confession of faith by Abraham Ratzlaff, and became a member of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church.

On Aug. 18, 1916 he was united in marriage to Mary Pauls, daughter of John and Anna Pauls. To this union were born thee sons and two daughters of whom one daughter, Anna Laura, died in infancy. After 14 years of happy marriage his companion was taken fom [sic] him through death. In 1930 he was united in marriage to Mary Schmidt. To this union was born two children, a son and a daughter.

He was engaged in farming in the Inman community until 1952 when the family left the farm and moved to their present home in Newton. Carpentry became his full time occupation until his semi-retirement in 1960, after which he continued paritally in this field along with painting.

He loved the work of the church and had a deep regard for its welfare. He was a charter member of the Inman Mennonite Church. He remained an active member there until his transfer to the First Mennonite Church in Newton. He served as a deacon for many years as well as Sunday school teacher and superintendent.

Several weeks before his death much joy came to him when the family gathered to help celebrate his 68th birthday. He enjoyed fairly good health all of his life. The tree and shrubs which he planted the day before his death will remain a living memorial of him to his family.

Early Tuesday morning, April 3, he complained of a mild chest discomfort. Shortly thereafter he suffered a heart attack. The efforts by ambulance and hospital attendants to revive him were futile and the Lord saw fit to take him until Himself.

He leaves to mourn his sudden passing, his wife Mary; two daughters, Mrs. Alma Thiessen of Hutchinson and Lois of the home; three sons, Walter and family of Halstead, Victor and family of Halstead, Melvin and family of Hesston; and one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Bertha Martens of Hutchinson. One son Edwin and one daughter-in-law Esther preceded him in death in 1962. Also he leaves one sister, Mrs. P. H. Ediger of Inman; three brothers, Abraham and John of Buhler, Henry of Inman, and a host of other relatives and friends. — The Family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1963 May 28 p. 367