Leander Austin Martens passed peacefully into the presence of his Lord in the early morning hours of June 8, 2007 at the Menno Home, Abbotsford, BC.
Dad was born in Herbert, Saskatchewan on August 23, 1912 to Abram and Suzanna (Schellenberg) Martens and was the second of 12 children. His early years were spent in the Herbert/Main Center area of Saskatchewan, the province he would always love.
Dad was predeceased by his parents, Abram and Suzanna, his stepmother, Anna, and six of his brothers: Arnold, Eugene, Ernie, Jake, Art, and Loren. Also preÂdeceasing him were his son, John, his daughter-in-law, Dorothy, and two infant great granddaughters, Flannery Patricia Claire Collins and Mercy Emmanuelle Collins.
Surviving him are his wife, of 64 years, Katherine; brothers Ed (Ruth) Martens, Corny Martens, and Donald (Audrey) Martens; sisters Theresa Martens and Colleen Heidebrecht; children Janice (Dennis) Friesen, Kent Martens, David (Beverly) Martens, daughter-in-law, Patricia Martens-Dashwood; 16 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Teaching was his profession for 32 years, but farming was his passion. He longed for the endless prairie and often dreamt that he would go grain farming in retirement. He taught in several smaller schools in Saskatchewan and in 1948 moved to Bradner where he taught in Mission City and then in Abbotsford, retiring in 1965. He resided on the farm in Bradner until age 90 when his health forced him to move. In January 2007 he was diagnosed with cancer and shortly thereafter was moved to the Menno Home, where he received the care that he required.
The memorial service will be held at the church they attended for many years, Ross Road Community Church, Abbotsford, on Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 2:00 pm. Pastors Rudy Willms and Walter Wiens will officiate.
Very special thanks go out to the staff at the BC Cancer Agency in Surrey, and the Menno Home West One staff who took exceptional care of our father, Leander, and continue to give excellent care to our mother, Katherine.