EDWARD JOHN MARTENS

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EDWARD JOHN MARTENS June 8, 1941 to September 16, 2015 With sadness we share that, after a decade-spanning battle with cancer, Ed passed from this life at Concordia Hospital, surrounded by love. Brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, mentor, entrepreneur, friend, Ed was married to Pat for almost 51 years. Predeceased by father Abram, and mother Agatha; father-in-law Matt; mother-in-law Lillian; he leaves behind three daughters, Leslie (Peter), Beth (Rand), Jacquie (Bob), and seven grandchildren, Theo, Christopher, Calvin, Eliot, Liam, Tessa, and Sam. He will be deeply missed by siblings Marlene (Henry), Rick (Carole), Carry (Will), Catheryn (Steve) and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Ed's working life included time with Investor's Syndicate and MAST (Manitoba Associate of School Trustees), but the bulk of his career, some 30 years, was spent building Wordsnorth Communication Services, a full service PR firm begun with Pat in 1977. Ed also served as a school trustee for six years, beginning a lifetime of involvement in public affairs and philanthropy. His positions included President, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce; Vice Chair, St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation; member of the Board at St. Amant Centre; Vice Chair, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Board; Chair, Red River College Board of Governors; Chair, Winnipeg Business Development Corporation. Ed loved gardening, golfing, and music. Late in his life he became devoted to fitness, spending many hours at the Wellness Institute, making friendships there that saw him through many hard days during the past years of treatments, surgeries and recoveries. Ed began entering 10k runs after the age of 70, often finishing in the top of his age class. Ed and Pat also loved to travel, to Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, Paris, cruising the Mediterranean, exploring Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, countless trips to Hawaii, Florida, Mexico. Ed loved to share those travelling experiences as often as possible, which meant family trips to both Naples (Fla) and Maui and Oahu. Since 2002, much of Ed's joy happened on Saturdays with his grandchildren. Those Saturdays meant food and fun, trips to museums and the zoo, nature walks, swims, as well as escapades involving ladders, tools, rooftop and creekside adventures, the details of which his daughters would prefer to remain ignorant. Ed's garden, so wondrous as to be featured in a spread in Manitoba Gardener, was built side by side with Pat and Lillian, created from the thousands of seedlings started in the crawlspace of their home. This lead to some anxious moments wondering if Manitoba Hydro would identify the Tamarind house as a grow op. Though not often effusive in his feelings, Ed cared deeply about his family and friends, providing support to many of them in their illnesses and dying. We can't imagine how much worse this journey would have been without the loving care of all the partners, family, and friends and colleagues who got us through the past few weeks, as well as the staff of N1South at Concordia in his last days. Pat and her daughters thank everyone for their help through this difficult time. Ed's life will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at First Mennonite Church, Alverstone and Notre Dame, Rev. Kathy Koop leading. Flowers most welcome. Donations may also be made to the Mennonite Central Committee or Winnipeg Humane Society. FRIENDS FUNERAL SERVICE 204-339-5555

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 19, 2015