Individual Details
Robert Leroy Martensen
(12 Apr 1917 - 27 Jun 2005)
On the U. S. Census of Precinct 9, Cedar Co., Nebraska, Robert L. Martensen age 13 appears with his parents Joseph N. and Sophie and siblings Louis, Pauline and Leroy. All were born in Nebraska except his father who was born in Norway. Joseph is a farmer.
Eureka Times-Standard, Eureka, California, June 30, 2005: Final Salute. Robert Leroy Martensen passed away and went to be with the Lord on Monday June 27, 2005, at 5:02 pm. Robert was born April 12, 1917, in Hartington, Nebraska. He lived with his family on a farm and worked very hard as a young man and for the rest of his life.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia, second wife Eileen; his parents, Joseph Nordall Martensen and Anna Sophia Martensen; his brothers and sisters, Louis Martensen, Leroy Martensen and Pauline Palmer; and his son-in-law, Hilton Hostler, Jr.
Robert was a heavy equipment diesel mechanic for 57 years. He enjoyed salmon fishing, deer hunting and was a master craftsman. He had a PhD in storytelling and always had a good joke for his friends and family. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and solved them easily. His motto was "never give up, never quit."
He loved his entire family with all his heart and is survived by his children. Robert Bruce Martensen, Stanley Leroy Martensen, John Edward Martensen and Jacqueline Marie Hostler; step-daughters Linda Oshel, Donna Annis; grandchildren Robert J. Martensen, Eric Johnston, Lisa Johnston, Stanley W. Martensen, Janeen Baker, Tracy Martensen, Michael Hostler, Heather Hostler, Jake Martensen, Jennifer Martensen; and great grandchildren, Jessica Martensen, Keisha Martensen, Katina Baker, Tashia Daniels, Javonee Martensen, TeeAnna Martensen, Trinity Ann Martensen, Hilton Hostler III, Kameiko Hostler-Pacheco, Dustin Gray and Steven Gray.
Robert Leroy Martensen was highly decorated during his career in the Army. His honors included Expert Infantry Badge, American Theater of Operations, European Theater of Operations with five campaign stars for Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes Campaign (Saar and Battle of the Bulge Campaign), Rhineland, Central Germany. He received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Oak Leaf Cluster, Victory Medal and was recommended for the Silver Star. Robert never talked about his heroism. If you asked him what he achieved in the Army he would say he got a badge for carrying fire wood for the campfire girls.
The following transcript was among the memories we found: "Five Nebraskans were among 20 outstanding American heroes to be decorated by General Patton during a heavy downpour near Montargis, France. The 20 were the only ones among 120 of their comrades who had been so honored, who could appear for the ceremonies. The others were dead or in hospitals. The ceremony was graphically described in an exclusive Chicago Daily News report just received in the newsroom. The story written by BJ McQuadi, described how the heroes stood at attention, their raincoats tightly buttoned about them until the general appeared. Meanwhile, others of their buddies were hunting down Germans in the woods nearby. The regiment receiving the citation was a mechanized one, but the men were forced to become hedgerow fighters in order to overcome the Germans. They were green troops when they went into action, but they now are tough, wily veterans, able to hold their own against the toughest of the seasoned German veterans. They were decorated for their heroism in capturing a certain town and holding it against a determined counterattack. Among those decorated were Staff Sergeant Robert Martensen, a Hartington farmer, who crawled through mine-strewn fields to recover a badly wounded comrade who was lying on an unexploded mine."
Our father was a hero in battle was well as a hero in every day life. He believed that the only limit to reaching your dreams was the amount of work you were willing to put into it. He believed in God, his country and loving his family and friends. He valued honesty and integrity.
Funeral services will be Friday, July 1, 2005 at 10 am at St. Mary's Catholic Church Janes Road, Arcata, California. The interment will immediately follow at the Oceanview Cemetery on Broadway in Eureka, California. Viewing will be Thursday June 30, 2005, 9 am - 5pm at Paul's Chapel Arcata, California. Rosary will be held Thursday evening at 7 pm at Paul's Chapel.
The Pall bearers are his grandsons Stanley Martensen, Tracy Martensen, Eric Johnston, Michael Hostler, Robert J. Martensen, Morgan Morgan, Jake Martensen, Hilton Hostler III, Dustin Gray and Steven Gray. The Honorary Pall Bearers are as follows: Bob King, Dick King, Larry Senffner, Doug Flenniken, Rick Miller, Johnny Carmesin, Bob Carmesin, L. J. Pedro, John Beugler, Ronnie Marcelli, Dan Marcelli, Angie Marcelli, Rob Marcelli, Lance Marcelli, Chuck Gray, Will Hostler, Robert Hostler, Dennis Keene, Ed Schillinger, Don Allen, Bret Viser, Jerry Loveland and David Schneider. Arrangements are under the directions of Paul's Chapel, Arcata, CA.
Eureka Times-Standard, Eureka, California, June 30, 2005: Final Salute. Robert Leroy Martensen passed away and went to be with the Lord on Monday June 27, 2005, at 5:02 pm. Robert was born April 12, 1917, in Hartington, Nebraska. He lived with his family on a farm and worked very hard as a young man and for the rest of his life.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia, second wife Eileen; his parents, Joseph Nordall Martensen and Anna Sophia Martensen; his brothers and sisters, Louis Martensen, Leroy Martensen and Pauline Palmer; and his son-in-law, Hilton Hostler, Jr.
Robert was a heavy equipment diesel mechanic for 57 years. He enjoyed salmon fishing, deer hunting and was a master craftsman. He had a PhD in storytelling and always had a good joke for his friends and family. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and solved them easily. His motto was "never give up, never quit."
He loved his entire family with all his heart and is survived by his children. Robert Bruce Martensen, Stanley Leroy Martensen, John Edward Martensen and Jacqueline Marie Hostler; step-daughters Linda Oshel, Donna Annis; grandchildren Robert J. Martensen, Eric Johnston, Lisa Johnston, Stanley W. Martensen, Janeen Baker, Tracy Martensen, Michael Hostler, Heather Hostler, Jake Martensen, Jennifer Martensen; and great grandchildren, Jessica Martensen, Keisha Martensen, Katina Baker, Tashia Daniels, Javonee Martensen, TeeAnna Martensen, Trinity Ann Martensen, Hilton Hostler III, Kameiko Hostler-Pacheco, Dustin Gray and Steven Gray.
Robert Leroy Martensen was highly decorated during his career in the Army. His honors included Expert Infantry Badge, American Theater of Operations, European Theater of Operations with five campaign stars for Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes Campaign (Saar and Battle of the Bulge Campaign), Rhineland, Central Germany. He received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Oak Leaf Cluster, Victory Medal and was recommended for the Silver Star. Robert never talked about his heroism. If you asked him what he achieved in the Army he would say he got a badge for carrying fire wood for the campfire girls.
The following transcript was among the memories we found: "Five Nebraskans were among 20 outstanding American heroes to be decorated by General Patton during a heavy downpour near Montargis, France. The 20 were the only ones among 120 of their comrades who had been so honored, who could appear for the ceremonies. The others were dead or in hospitals. The ceremony was graphically described in an exclusive Chicago Daily News report just received in the newsroom. The story written by BJ McQuadi, described how the heroes stood at attention, their raincoats tightly buttoned about them until the general appeared. Meanwhile, others of their buddies were hunting down Germans in the woods nearby. The regiment receiving the citation was a mechanized one, but the men were forced to become hedgerow fighters in order to overcome the Germans. They were green troops when they went into action, but they now are tough, wily veterans, able to hold their own against the toughest of the seasoned German veterans. They were decorated for their heroism in capturing a certain town and holding it against a determined counterattack. Among those decorated were Staff Sergeant Robert Martensen, a Hartington farmer, who crawled through mine-strewn fields to recover a badly wounded comrade who was lying on an unexploded mine."
Our father was a hero in battle was well as a hero in every day life. He believed that the only limit to reaching your dreams was the amount of work you were willing to put into it. He believed in God, his country and loving his family and friends. He valued honesty and integrity.
Funeral services will be Friday, July 1, 2005 at 10 am at St. Mary's Catholic Church Janes Road, Arcata, California. The interment will immediately follow at the Oceanview Cemetery on Broadway in Eureka, California. Viewing will be Thursday June 30, 2005, 9 am - 5pm at Paul's Chapel Arcata, California. Rosary will be held Thursday evening at 7 pm at Paul's Chapel.
The Pall bearers are his grandsons Stanley Martensen, Tracy Martensen, Eric Johnston, Michael Hostler, Robert J. Martensen, Morgan Morgan, Jake Martensen, Hilton Hostler III, Dustin Gray and Steven Gray. The Honorary Pall Bearers are as follows: Bob King, Dick King, Larry Senffner, Doug Flenniken, Rick Miller, Johnny Carmesin, Bob Carmesin, L. J. Pedro, John Beugler, Ronnie Marcelli, Dan Marcelli, Angie Marcelli, Rob Marcelli, Lance Marcelli, Chuck Gray, Will Hostler, Robert Hostler, Dennis Keene, Ed Schillinger, Don Allen, Bret Viser, Jerry Loveland and David Schneider. Arrangements are under the directions of Paul's Chapel, Arcata, CA.
Events
| Birth | 12 Apr 1917 | Hartington, Cedar Co., Nebraska |  | ||
| Marriage | 6 Jul 1968 | Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada - Eileen Maude Kirkpatrick | | ||
| Death | 27 Jun 2005 | Eureka, Humboldt Co., California | | ||
| Burial | Ocean View Cemetery, Eureka, Humboldt Co., California | |
Families
| Spouse | Eileen Maude Kirkpatrick (1929 - 1992) |
Endnotes
1. Photo taken in 1989 noted birthdate.
2. Social Security Death Index.
3. Verbal from Eileen Kirkpatrick Martensen.
4. Social Security Death Index.
5. Obituary of Robert Leroy Martensen, Eureka Times-Standard, Eureka, California, June 30, 2005..