Kenneth J. “Ken” Martin

Kenneth J. “Ken” Martin 69, died Thursday, August 14, 2014 at Via Christi St. Francis. He was born February 20, 1945 in Fairview, Oklahoma to Cecil A and Alpha M. (Siefried) Martin. On February 20, 1965 he married Karen K. Hesser in Copeland, Kansas and she survives of the home. He was a member of the Sublette, Kansas Southern Baptist Church.  Ken was a heavy equipment operator for the State of Kansas Hiway Department. He also enjoyed a career in sales.  Ken enjoyed woodworking and recently completed a project of making wooden football wall plaques for his children and grandchildren.  He also enjoyed golf and worked for a period of time mowing at Sandcreek Station golf course in Newton.  Ken was proud of his yard and liked to spend time doing yard improvements including recently completing a new front yard patio.  You could often find Ken with his buddies enjoying coffee at Curtis C’ restaurant in Newton where he made fast friends with the staff.  Prior to his move to Newton Ken lived in Sublette Kansas where he worked as a volunteer fireman and EMT for the Sublette Fire Department.  Of all of Ken’s activities he was a loving husband, father and grandfather first and always enjoyed time he spent with his family.

Ken is survived by his wife Karen of Newton, Kansas; daughters: Shelly R. Tritt and her husband Mike and Shelia R. Martin all of Newton, Kansas; brothers Bobby Gene and his wife Connie Martin of Bakersfield, California and LeRoy “Butch” and his wife Annette Martin of Harrah, Oklahoma. brother in law and sister in law Rob Roberts and Barb Roberts both of Mullinville, Kansas. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Nick, Jennifer, Nichole, Jacob, Laci, Sarah, Courtney, Chris and Stephanie and 3 grandchildren in law and 10 great grandchildren: Jaylee, Dakota, Braxton, Jaxson, Laylynn, Collin, Koda, Cayden, Parker, and Dallas.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents

Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton, Kansas with the family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 18, 2014 at Sublette Southern Baptist Church in Sublette, Kansas with Pastor Jerry Smith presiding.  Burial will be in the Copeland Kansas Cemetery.  The casket will be open prior to the funeral at Sublette. Swaim Funeral Home of Sublette is in charge of local arrangements.

Memorials are suggested to Faith Baptist Church of Andover, Kansas or Sublette Southern Baptist Church, Sublette, Kansas in care of Petersen Funeral Home 215 North Main Newton, Kansas 67114