MARTIN, Edward Larry "Ed"

MARTIN, LANGSTAFF, HEARN, KOENCK, VAUDT, WEIR, ZECH, BEDWELL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 10/10/2014 at 12:44:58

Obituary ~ Edward "Ed" Larry Martin
March 10, 1937 ~ August 31, 2014

Edward Larry Martin, age 77 of Leon, Iowa, the son of Edward and Clara Ellen (Langstaff) Kelsey, was born March 10, 1937, in Bronson, Iowa. He died on Sunday, August 31, 2014, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Ed grew up in Bronson. After his parents' divorce, Ed lived with his grandparents. After his grandmother's death when Ed was 13, he moved back in with his mother and was adopted by his stepfather, Laverl "Slim" Martin. At age 17, Ed joined the United States Army. He married Gerda Hearn on November 27, 1958. They were blessed with son, Eddie Martin, Jr. On May 30, 1975, Ed retired from the Army after 21 years of service. On August 17, 1990, in Lawton, Oklahoma, Ed married Iris Dorothy Koenck, her three children, Rhonda, Brian, and Mike, became part of Ed's family, too.

Ed worked at Goodyear in Lawton until he retired in 1990. In 2001, Ed and Iris moved to Decatur, Iowa. He served as Mayor for a term. In 2007, they moved to Leon. In his free time, Ed was a talented woodworker. He could do anything from making a building to a child's toy. He was able to look at a picture of something and then build it himself. He also enjoyed crossword puzzles and reading spy or mystery books. Due to failing health, Ed moved into the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown on February 18, 2013.

Preceding him in death were his parents, grandparents, and wife Gerda Martin. Survivors include his wife, Iris Martin of Leon; son, Eddie Martin and wife Crystal of Iowa Park, Texas; stepchildren, Rhonda Vaudt and husband Rick of Ravenna, Ohio, Brian Weir of Titonka, Iowa, and Mike Zech of Winterset, Iowa; two grandchildren, Trevor Martin and Lauren Martin; five step grandchildren; great grandson, Cooper Martin; 10 step great grandchildren; brother, Mike Martin and wife Julie and sister, Marsha Bedwell and husband Mike, all of Sioux City, Iowa; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at the Slade - O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, September 4, 2014, with Pastor Jodi Rushing officiating. Burial will be in Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa on Monday, September 8, 2014 at 2 p.m.

SOURCE: sladefuneralhome.com/webcast/24016

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2014

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