OMAR MARTIN

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OMAR MARTIN July 15, 1954 - September 19, 2002 It is with deep regret we announce the sudden death of Omar Martin, aged 48, at his home in Arnaud, MB. Mourning his loss are his wife Lynne; and daughters, Suzanne and Carol of Arnaud; and son Sam of Winnipeg; and his mother Leah (Rudy) Martin of St. Jacobs, ON. He was predeceased by his father Philip in 1969. Omar was baptized upon confession of his faith in St. Jacobs Mennonite Church on March 14, 1971, and graduated from high school the following year. He had a life-long passion with wood, making his living from carpentry for many years. On June 10, 1978, he married Lynne Pieper of Cincinnati, Ohio, and two years later they moved to Winnipeg where Omar completed a Bachelor of Theology degree at Canadian Mennonite Bible College. In 1983 they moved to Rosthern, SK where they worked as associate co-pastors. Interspersed with his carpentry, Omar also worked at Camp Shekinah in Saskatchewan and as residence director at CMBC. He completed a B.A. at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, ON, and then went on to run a successful home renovation design business. The family moved back to Manitoba in 1999 where Omar and Lynne became co-pastors of the Arnaud Mennonite Church. Omar is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Alvin and Ruth of New Hamburg, ON, Aaron and Loretta of Elmira, ON, Naomi and Nevelle deRozario of Kitchener, ON, Armand and Virginia of Goshen, IN, Vera and Elmer Martin of Oshawa, ON, Elma and Tim Freed of London, ON, Margaret and Jim Fisher of Goshen, IN, Nora Martin and Steve McInnis of Woodstock, ON, and Herb and Wanda of St. Jacobs, ON, parents-in-law Carl and Suzanne Pieper and his brother-in-law, Wayne and Kathleen Pieper, all of Cincinnati, as well as 21 nieces and nephews and three great-nieces and nephews. A service celebrating Omars life will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday Sept. 24, at Bethel Mennonite Church 870 Carter Ave. Everyone is invited for a time of food and fellowship at Arnaud Mennonite Church after the service. Donations in Omars memory can be made to Mennonite Central Committee, 134 Plaza Dr., Winnipeg, MB R3T 5K9; Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Box 250, Gretna, MB R0G 0V0 or Arnaud Mennonite Church. Box 3, Arnaud, MB R0A 0B0. Omar, we will miss your strong yet gentle faith, your willing hands, and your quick sense of humour. Thank you for loving us so well.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 23, 2002