Dick Vander Martin 1875 - 1921

VANDER MARTIN, BARNAVELT

Posted By: LInda H Meyers (email)
Date: 6/3/2008 at 16:40:03

TO THE MEMORY OF KICK VANDER MARTIN
We are a cosmopolitan people in Central. People take their place and are accorded a standing among us, not by arbitrary standards of circle, profession, standing or wealth. rather throughout the years has recognition been accorded to individuals who have revealed their motto to be "I serve". And so it was that though filling the humble place of janitor of Central church, the membership sorrowed exceedingly at the sudden demise.
Dick Vander Martin was born at Pella, Iowa, December 18, 1875, and died at Des Moines on May 12, 1921, aged 45 years, 4 months, and 24 days. In the years of his early manhood his mother died, leaving him to make his home with Grandma Barnevelt. His grade school days were spent in Lincoln school in Des Moines, and early in his life he began his labors as a self-supporting boy by assisting the janitor of Lincoln school. From that early apprenticeship he continued work as janitor in other positions, but finally came to Central church sixteen years ago, and with the exception of a brief period in thaose years, when his health broke, he has been the good and kindly spirited servant of this congregation, caring for the building and its furnishings. In the year 1895 Dick became a member of Central under the ministry of Dr. Breeden.
Our entire membership honor his memory for what he really was. He was a most patient and enduring soul. In such a position as his misunderstandings and lax appreciation are likely to come all to often; long hours and irregular tasks were his. He was the victim of the winter's cold and snows; he was the unromantic task of straightening up when the merriment and joy of the socials had ended. It was his to keep presentable and inviting this room of worship.
He was the servant of no bad habits. From early manhood his evenings were spent in his room with book or paper. Grandma Barnevelt truly says "his home was his palace." His devotion to grandma, who raised him, was beautiful as it was commendatory. Toward her he was always deference, thoughfulness and solicitude. When one considers how from his early teens he has been a man of work, toiling throughout the years, we feel that the Great One who worked at the carpenter's bench at Nazareth has not overlooked him. And from his life, too, one may see how it is that the church, its task and its aims are achieved by the consecration of those who stand by year in and year out. For the spirit of our friend, brother, and good servant the Lord may well have said ere this: "Thou hast taken in thy years in life on earth a lowly place among men; now is thy greater day; come up higher."

---from unknown newspaper