Roger A. Martin
Roger A. Martin of Monona, Iowa, died on Monday, Aug. 22, at Central Community Hospital in Elkader, Iowa, of esophageal cancer.
The son of Lester and Lena Martin, Roger was born on March 24, 1938. He lived in rural Maynard, Iowa, and graduated from Maynard Consolidated School in 1956.
Roger and Patricia Rueber of Westgate, Iowa, were married on Aug. 15, 1958, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Westgate. Two sons, William and Jeffrey, were born to the couple.
While in school, Roger participated in sports and was proud to have earned thirteen athletic letters. Following graduation from Parsons College, he began his teaching and coaching career in Monona, moving to Aplington, then Coggon, where he taught at North Linn Community School, before returning to Monona. He retired from the MFL MarMac School District in 2000 after 38 years in education.
Roger’s interest in sports continued as he spent his career as a coach while teaching social studies, physical education and driver education. He was inducted into the Iowa Softball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001. Roger particularly enjoyed the friendships he made with students and fellow educators. He cared greatly about his students and was pleased with their accomplishments as adults, contacts with them brought out many stories and good memories.
Following his retirement, Roger volunteered for several community activities. He also worked part time for Birdnow Chevrolet and The Outlook newspaper, but especially enjoyed his association with Grau Funeral Home.
He made a new group of friends when he began to regularly breakfast at the Marquette Cafe. He was secretary of the senior league at the Tri-City Golf Club for several years, providing a salty joke now and then before the rounds began. Roger was a faithful, ever-hopeful Chicago Bears and Cubs fan.
Roger is survived by his wife Pat; his sons Bill (Lois) of Vinton, Iowa, and Jeff (Lynn) Humphrey of Cupar, Scotland. Also surviving are granddaughters Kate and Jane Martin and grandsons Asher and Declan Humphrey-Martin. His good dog Sweets will miss the rides to Marquette.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law, Ted and Bernitha Rueber.
In lieu of flowers or other memorials, the family requests donations be made to the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa, the Monona Ambulance, the Monona Fire Department or the Tri-City Golf Club.
A graveside committal service will be held on Friday, Aug. 26, at 12:30 p.m. at the Monona Cemetery, Monona, Iowa.
A celebration of Roger’s life will be held on Friday, Aug. 26, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Leonard – Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona, Iowa. Refreshments will be served.
Condolences may be left with: www.graufuneralhomes.com.
Leonard – Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.
