Francis Martin

Mr. Francis Martin, 89, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Saturday, October 30, 2010, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington, IA. Throughout his brief battle with cancer and at the time of his death, he was surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will begin after 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2nd, at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Earl Swigart officiating. Interment will be in the Forest Home Cemetery with military honors provided by the Henry County Honor Guard, Dean King commander. Memorials have been established to Great River Hospice House and Pleasant Manor Care Center. Born February 26, 1921, in Schuyler County, MO, Francis Harry was the son of Harry Arthur and Blanche White Martin. On March 8, 1942, he married Laura June Kongable in Schuyler County, MO. She survives. Francis enlisted in the United States Army on October 13, 1942. He served in the 11th Armored Division and participated in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He was discharged in November of 1945. Following his discharge from the service, Francis farmed in Missouri. In the late fifties he moved to Iowa, where he continued to farm, as well as being employed by Harkens Meat Processing. In 1962, Francis moved his family to Fairfield, IA, where he operated Dog-n-Suds. After spending three years in Fairfield, he brought his family to Mt. Pleasant, where he has lived ever since. Francis operated The Diner in Mt. Pleasant and then was employed by Hazen Supply, near Yarmouth, until the time of his retirement in the mid-eighties. After his retirement, Francis enjoyed mowing grass for many of his neighbors and turned that hobby into a small business. He liked watching the Food Network, cooking, and trying new recipes. Francis attended Calvary Baptist Church and liked to fish in his free time. Along with his loving wife June, of sixty-eight years, Francis is survived by two sons, Larry (Ruth) Martin of Fairfield, IA and Craig ( friend, Rhonda Morrow) Martin of Mt. Pleasant, IA; two daughters, Dianna (Melvin) Williams of Mexico, MO and Janice (Jim) Russell of Burlington, IA; a son-in-law, Tom Uitermarkt of Des Moines, IA; two brothers, Ronald (Roberta) Martin and Ralph Drinkall, both of IL; a sister Kathleen Nelson of IN; and a brother-in-law, Paul Welch of MO. He is also survived by16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one great great-grandchild. Francis was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Judy Uitermarkt in 2001; a stillborn son, Stephen Ellis Martin; a brother Berney Martin; and a sister Annalee Welch.