Martens, John H. (1882-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Sep 7 p. 4

Birth date: 1882

text of obituary:

Immigrant of Early 1920's Dies in Kansas

Inman, Kan. — John H. Martens, 80, who was one of a group of 62 young men to arrive in America from South Russia in the early 1920's, died Sept. 4 at the Halstead Hospital after a long illness.

"The Sixty-Two" refers to a group of Mennonite young men who were a part of a White Army division which made its way to Constantinople. There the Mennonite youths boarded a ship for America, arriving in 1921.

Mr. Martens married Sara Neufeld at Buhler in 1923. He was a retired farmer and a member of the Zoar M. B. Church, Inman, where the funeral was conducted Sept. 6. Rev. Kenneth Gardner officiated.

Survivors in addition to the widow include a son, Johnnie, of Inman; two daughters, Mrs. Ben Thiessen and Mrs. Irvin Pauls; and eight grandchildren.