Kenneth Richard Martens

JACOBI, MARTENS, RUDDER, KLENDWORTH, HASH, LONG, OUREN, EBINK

Posted By: Gerhardt Leffler (email)
Date: 5/6/2010 at 09:01:39

Kenneth R. Martens, age 63, of Marengo, died Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at his home following an extended illness. Funeral Services: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the First Presbyterian Church, Marengo with Rev. Gerald Rife officiating. Burial will be in the Marengo Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Marengo American Legion Post #76. Visitation: 3 to 8 P.M. Friday, April 16, 2010 at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. A memorial fund has been established.

He is survived by his wife Deania (Rudder) Martens, two daughters, Alicia Bean (Craig) of Marion and Misty Klendworth (Bruce) of Coggon; a step-brother Gary Hash (Marsha) of Brooklyn and a step-sister Reta Martens of Chino Hills, CA. Also surviving are his mother-in-law, Pearl Rudder of Louisville, KY, a sister-in-law, Carol Long (Jerry) and nephews Jan (Lynn and Chad Long, all of Louisville, step-nieces Sarah Ouren (Matt) of Oronogo, MO and Haley Ebink of Chino Hills, CA and step-nephews Chris Hash of Brooklyn and Richard Ebink of Chino Hills, CA along with several great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Henry Martens and Alice Jacobi Martens, his step-mother Hallie Martens, and his father-in-law, Boyd Rudder.

Kenneth Richard Martens was born August 13, 1946 in Belle Plaine, Iowa, the son of Richard Henry Martens and Alice (Jacobi) Martens. He attended the Hartwick schools and graduated from HLV High School in Victor in 1964. He served in the U.S. Army for 3 years. Kenneth received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting in 1971 and his law degree in 1974 from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He married Deania Rudder in Tennessee. The couple moved to Marengo in 1974.

Kenneth served as Assistant Iowa County Attorney for a year and was elected and served as Iowa County Attorney for 24 years. He also served as Marengo City Attorney from 2000 to 2010. Ken operated Swift and Martens Law Office in Marengo from 1975 until 1987, which then became Martens Law Office which he continued to operate to this day. Ken was a partner in Park and Martens Law Office in Victor from 1979 to 1981 which then became Park, Martens and Stiefel. Kenneth remained with the firm until 2001. He also had owned and operated the Swift Abstract Company in Marengo since 1975.

Kenneth was a 35-year member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the Iowa County Attorney’s Association, and secretary-treasurer of the Iowa County Bar Association. He was a member of the Marengo Rotary Club, Service Officer of American Legion Post #76, and a past member of the Marengo Memorial Hospital Board. Kenneth was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Marengo and also served as an Elder.

He enjoyed bowling with the Swift Abstract bowling team and playing tennis especially in the Iowa Games and the Senior Olympics.

KLOSTER FUNERAL HOME
 

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