Dennis Emil Martens

Arrangements are pending for a graveside service at the interment of his cremated remains at a later date.

Dennis Emil, son of Virtus and Evelyn (Witt) Martens, was born July 26, 1942, at St. Anthonys Regional Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. He was baptized into the Lutheran Faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia. As a young boy he suffered complications from a childhood illness and became severely handicapped. At the age of four years, he became a resident of Glenwood State Hospital. Later, he lived at Martin Luther Group Home in Logan, Iowa, where they helped him learn to care for his own basic needs. He was also able to earn some money by helping recycle newspapers. A special accomplishment was being awarded a blue ribbon at the Harrison County Fair for an abstract painting. On April 17, 1995, Dennis was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Logan. Then, in 2005, he was transferred to Bayard Nursing and Rehab Center in Bayard to be with his mother who was also a resident and other family members who lived in the area. Dennis health was somewhat fragile and he died unexpectedly on Saturday, October 28, 2006, at Bayard Nursing and Rehab Center, at the age of 64 years, 3 months and 2 days. Preceding Dennis in death are his parents Virtus and Evelyn Martens; grandparents George and Pauline Witt and Emil and Anna Martens; nephew Michael Lake; and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his siblings: Neva Martens and her friend Phil Severtson of Ankeny; Joan and husband Clark Mercer of Austin, TX; brother Kerry Martens of Austin, TX; many nieces and nephews and their families; other relatives and family friends.