ERNIE MARTENS

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ERNIE MARTENS October 20, 1942 - January 9, 2008 Ernst B. Martens (Ernie) was born in Steinbach to Elsa and the late Jac Martens, the eldest of five children, and was baptized in 1968 in the Elim Church in Grunthal. He grew up in Grunthal, MB, where he helped his parents in the family store. In 1961 he took a Radio Servicing course at the Manitoba Institute of Technology and was hired by Northern Electric Company Ltd. His hobby of electronics became a career for 16 years. He enjoyed installing and testing telephone systems throughout Western Canada and the United States, especially the traveling which allowed him to enjoy another hobby - driving a variety of sporty cars. In 1967, Ernie was working in Manitou, MB, where he met his future wife Mary Ann Fehr. They married on September 28, 1968, in Manitou and eventually settled in Steinbach, where they raised three children. Ernie started working with his father and brother at Martens Printing in 1977, and stayed until his retirement in 2004. One of Ernie's greatest pleasures in life was assisting others. From serving the church as a sound technician, participating on the board of Bridgepark, harvesting barley in Saskatchewan, cottage building with his son, to fixing almost anything that needed fixing for anyone who asked, he was happy to help. In recent years, Ernie became an avid bird watcher, enjoying the outdoors and short birding excursions. Ernie's pride and joy was his family and much of his life was dedicated to his children and grandchildren. Opa will greatly be missed but his quiet strength and loving heart will live on in the generations that knew and loved him. Those that will mourn his loss are his wife Mary; children, Jeff (Shannon), Krista (Darren) and Dave; mother Elsa Martens; brothers and sisters, Will (Alvie), Jim (Annette), Lin (Grant) and Marlene; his precious grandchildren, Riley, Kennedy, Noah, Markus, Nyah and Elyssa and many nieces and nephews. Viewing will be held Sunday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m. with a devotional at 7:30 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, 150 Penfeld Drive, Steinbach. The funeral service will be held on Monday, January 14, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at Steinbach Mennonite Church, 345 Loewen Blvd., with interment at Heritage Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), 134 Plaza Drive, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5K9. Arrangements by Birchwood Funeral Chapel 1-204-346-1030 or 1-888-454-1030

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 12, 2008