Keith Allen Martin 1947-2004

MARTIN, TORNOW, MCWILLIAMS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/2/2008 at 00:21:55

The Mapleton Press
Monona County, Iowa
15 January 2004

Keith Martin
Keith A. Martin, 56, of Mapleton, Iowa died unexpectedly Friday, January 2, 2004 at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa after being stricken at his home.

The funeral service for Keith was Tuesday, January 6, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Mapleton with Pastor Fred Pilecki officiating.

Burial was in the Soldier Valley Cemetery at Pisgah, Iowa with flag presentation provided by the American Legion Loren Hollister Post #496 of Mapleton. Marie Whiteing was the organist for the service and the congregation sang, “On Eagles Wings” and “Something About That Name”. A prayer service was held on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton.

Keith Allen Martin was born October 9, 1947, at Moorhead, Iowa, the son of Ralph and Bernardine (Tornow) Martin. He lived in Moorhead, Iowa until the third grade when he moved with his family to Pisgah, Iowa. He graduated from West Harrison High School with the class of 1965. He furthered his education by attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha for period of two and one-half years and went onto serve his country in the United State Navy in the Viet Nam Conflict.

On September 2, 1967, Keith was united in marriage to Judy McWilliams at Pisgah, Iowa. Keith worked at Hilt Truck Lines and Warner Trucking and later as Parts Manager at the International Dealership in Moorhead, Iowa. He bought the True Value Store in Moorhead in 1984. In 1992, they moved to Mapleton to operate the Coast To Coast Store which became Martin Hardware in 2000.

He was a member of the Moorhead Christian Church but attended and was active in St. John’s United Methodist Church in Mapleton. He was also a member of the American Legion Loren Hollister Post #496 of Mapleton. Keith enjoyed camping, boating and fishing. He was a devoted husband and father with a special love for his grandchildren.

Those survivors left to cherish Keith’s memory include Judy, his wife of 35 years; one daughter and her husband, Julie and Ryan Erickson of Waunakee, Wisconsin; one son, Jeff Martin, of North Liberty, Iowa; two grandchildren, Brooks and Brayden; one brother and his wife, Kendall and Trish Martin of Omaha, Nebraska; three sisters, Kay Hansen and her husband, Jerry, of Moorhead, Iowa, Connie Ball and her husband, Joe of Woodbine, Iowa and Kristy Price of Ida Grove, Iowa; his father-in-law and step mother-in-law, Art and Andrea McWilliams of Logan, Iowa; one brother-in-law and his wife Larry and Linda McWilliams of Pisgah, Iowa and several nieces and Nephews along with many business associates, good friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Bernardine Martin, one sister-in-law, Chris Martin, one brother-in-law, Don Price, and his mother-in-law, Lois McWilliams.

Honorary pallbearers were Bob and Bonnie Banks, Stan and Mavis Skow, Delbert and Rita LaFrentz and Dick Schleis.

Pallbearers were Todd Ramsey, Drew McWilliams, Danny McWilliams, David McWilliams, Jerry Hansen, Joe Ball, Bob Hall and Ron Coyle.
Arrangements were made under the directions of the Armstrong Funeral Home of Mapleton.