Martens, Peter Jacob (1895-1973)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary Jun 29 p. 31

Birth date: 1895 Oct 21

text of obituary:

PETER JACOB MARTENS

Peter Jacob Martens was born in Landskrone, South Russia, to Jacob and Maria Martens in 1895. His childhood and youth were spent there. His mother died when Peter was 17, and a short time later his father died also. He served as a hospital orderly during the First World War. In 1918 Peter married Anna Fast. After 15 months his young wife died and was buried with their infant son who survived her by two days.

He was united in marriage with Sarah Dueck in 1921 and farmed together with his brother Jacob and his wife. During evangelistic services in 1923, Peter accepted Christ as his personal Saviour and experienced a test of this faith during the revolution. He worked diligently toward emigration, and in 1926 the family arrived in Canada. They settled in Namaka, Alberta, and here buried two infant children. The spiritual fellowship in Namaka lead Peter to a renewed Christian faith, and he was baptized and received into the M.B. Church.

In 1938, the family moved to Ontario. Together with four other families, they planted orchards and erected homes at the farm on Palatine Hill near Niagra-on-the-Lake.

During Peter's membership in the Virgil M.B. Church, he had a special interest in the founding and building of the Eden Bible & High School. When his strength began to fail, he retired and spent time searching the Scriptures. He suffered a mild stroke during a period of hospitalization, and died on April 2, 1973.

Left to mourn are his wife, 2 daughters, 3 sons, one sister and their respective families.