Martin, Milton “Milt” August 1931-2017

MARTIN, VOSSLER, FRIESE

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/1/2017 at 19:55:06

Milton August Martin

March 02, 1931 - May 04, 2017

Milton “Milt” Martin, longtime coach and teacher at Westmar College in Le Mars passed away Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars at the age of 86.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at the Le Mars Bible Church. Pastor Fred Gums will officiate. Burial with military honors conducted by the Wasmer American Legion Post 241 of Le Mars will be in Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be after 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, 2017, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., all at the church. Visitation will resume from noon until service time on Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel-Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials in Milt’s name to the Westmar Alumni Association, 335 1st Avenue SW, Le Mars, Iowa 51031.

Milton August Martin was born March 2, 1931 in Forbes, North Dakota, the son of Henry and Helena (Vossler) Martin. He was baptized at the Evangelical Church in Kulm, ND. He attended country school near Forbes, ND and graduated from Forbes High School. He continued his education at Westmar College in Le Mars, graduating in 1953.

Milt served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War era from 1953 to 1954.

Milt was united in marriage to Dorothy Friese in 1959. He began his teaching and coaching career in Hazel, SD. Later, he taught and coached in Morton, MN and Sibley, IA. In 1961, Milt accepted a position at Westmar College in Le Mars as a coach and teacher. He continued his education and received his Master of Arts Degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He continued teaching and coaching at Westmar until the school closed in 1997. Dorothy passed away in 1977. He later married Connie Truckenmiller on November 7, 1987. She passed on December 13, 1994. Milt married Ruth (Zanger) Blankenship on July 31, 1999 in Le Mars.

Coaching was a very important part of Milt’s life. He was a mentor to his students as well as their coach. He helped shape the minds of many youth who passed through his wrestling and football programs. Milt was honored by his peers by being inducted into the United States Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, OK and the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Des Moines. Through the years, many coaches, former athletes, and students would stop by and visit Milt at home and later at the nursing home.

He was a longtime member of the Le Mars Bible Church, Sertoma Club of Le Mars, Wasmer American Legion Post 241 of Le Mars, and the Westmar Alumni Association. Milt enjoyed reading, playing bridge, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals.

Survivors include his wife over 17 years, Ruth Martin of Le Mars; a son: Jim (Kerry-Lee) Martin of Lisburn, North Ireland; his step children: Aaron (Katie) Lee of Des Moines, IA, Adam (Amanda) Lee of Portland, OR, Pam (Jules) Banks of Westfield, IA, Dan (Neuma) Blankenship of Brazil, and Ned (Susan) Blankenship of Edina, MN; his grandchildren: Michaela (Luke) Denlinger, Ben Martin and Grace Martin; his step grandchildren: Blake and Oliver Lee, Alexandra, Annabelle, and Madeline Lee, Ben and Leah Banks, John and Aja Blankenship, Mac and Jacob Blankenship; two daughters in law: Angela Wilson of Indiana and Melinda (Dan) Stelling of Pierce, NE; two sisters: Audrey Dewes of Jamestown, ND and Cora Lee (Jim) Reuter of Lancaster, CA; one brother: Jerry (Barbara) Martin of Marcus, IA; 3 sisters in law: Betty Martin of Ellendale, ND, Kathy Martin of Palmdale, CA, and Shirley Martin of Forbes, ND; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two wives: Dorothy (Friese) Martin and Connie (Truckenmiller) Martin; 3 sons: Mike, Doug, and Tom Martin; and 3 brothers: Kenneth, Dale, and Lloyd Martin

Rexwinkel-Carlsen Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa