Ronald Addison Martens

MARTENS, RONALD ADDISON Of Fulton and Gun Lake Died September 16, 2018. Born December 14, 1929 in Kalamazoo to Harold and Cora DeYoung Martens. He attended the South Westnedge School and the Leggett School in Wakeshma Township. He was the valedictorian for the Class of '48 at Athens Agricultural Schools. Ron was the recipient of a Regents Alumni Scholarship which allowed him to attend the University of Michigan, eventually earning BS ('52) and MS ('54) degrees. In 1956 he joined the US Civil Service Commission. His assignments were in Chicago and Springfield, Ill.; Milwaukee, Wis.; and Detroit, Mich. During his tenure in Detroit he served as the area manager of the regional office for the commission and its successor, the Office of Personnel Management. Ron moved to the Defense Property Disposal Service in Battle Creek in 1980 and retired in 1986. On August 31, 1957 he was united in marriage to Lois Gregory at the Berlin Center United Methodist Church in Ionia. Ron was an active Presbyterian layman, having served as a deacon, elder and trustee. He had served on committees of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan, the Synod of the Covenant and was a delegate to the 1987 General Assembly. He was currently a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Richland. Ron had been an advocate for the First Presbyterian Health Clinic in Kalamazoo. He was one of the initial donors and board members for Cedar Park Senior Housing in Schoolcraft. Ron had served on the board of South County Community Services. Professionally, he had belonged to the American Society for Training and Development. A botanist by training, his passion was growing fruits, vegetables and flowers. He was a Master Gardener and regular exhibitor at the Kalamazoo County Fair and the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. He had been involved with farmers markets in Vicksburg and Richland. He was a patron of the arts and a ticketholder at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre for more than three decades. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois (2010); his parents; his brother, Richard (2016). Survivors include his children: Alan (Cheryl) Martens of Holland; Camille (Martin) Subject of Leslie; Nathan (Wendy Rice) Martens of Galesburg; seven grandchildren: Jasen (Christine) Rademacher; Sarah and Matthew Subject; Emma, Samuel, Elizabeth "Betsy" and Nicholas Martens; three great grandchildren: Gracelyn, Luke and Beckett Rademacher; a sister, Shirley Martens of Carlton, OR; an aunt, Lucille Marusek of Bradenton, FL; his in laws: Carol Gregory, Carol Jean (Steve) Price, Jerry (Judy) Gregory, Norma Mulder, Perry (Margaret) Gregory, Richard Gregory; many cousins, nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Richland on Sunday, October 28 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Mark Jennings officiating. A reception will follow in the Grand Prairie Room. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Caregivers Conference at the Transformations Spirituality Center or the First Presbyterian Church of Richland. Please go to his web page to leave message for his family at www.avinkcremation.com.