Heinrich (Henry) Jacob Martens died May 16, 2011. He was born May 23, 1926 in Rosenort, Man. to Jacob and Sara Martens. After their farm in Graysville, Man., was foreclosed in 1933, the family moved to the Winnipegosis area, Man., where they lived in a log house plastered with mud. At 12, Henry was working fields with horses and oxen. In 1942, they moved to B.C. to be closer to Christian community and schools. While attending Yarrow (B.C.) Bible School 1944−45, Henry asked Jesus into his heart. He was baptized into North Abbotsford (B.C.) MB Church (now Clearbrook MB). In 1951, Henry worked for Bethesda Home for the Mentally Ill, Vineland, Ont., on an MCC volunteer assignment. There, he met a nurse, Helen Teske from Grimsby, Ont. They married May 1952, and moved back to B.C. to run the farm and start a family. Helen died in 1969. Henry married Anna Braun in 1972 at East Aldergrove (B.C.) MB Church. Henry retired from George Derby Hospital to start a second career as a locksmith. Henry was a tireless volunteer for Mennonite Central Committee. Predeceased by Helen, Henry is mourned by Anna; children Edward (Patricia Jaques-Martens), Harold (Lynn), Viola (Brian) Pickering; 7 grandsons.
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