Leonard Friederich Heinrich Martens, 83

Leonard Friederich Heinrich Martens, 83, of Cole Camp, died Thursday, February 18, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Cole Camp.  He was born on July 25, 1932, on the family farm near Stover, Missouri, a son of William and Catharine (Vajen) Martens.  On August 14, 1932, he was baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Lake Creek.

In 1964, he began working at W-K Chevrolet in Cole Camp.  On April 15, 2014, he retired from W-K Chevrolet in Sedalia, after 50 years of service.  He was a longtime member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, where he was confirmed and also served as president of the board and funeral usher.  He served as the first president of the Cole Camp Booster Club, was a member and past president and treasurer of the Cole Camp Jaycees.

Leonard was a member of the Cole Camp Historical Society and compiled an index of births, marriages, and obituaries.  He was a board member and past president of the W. A. R. M. House in Warsaw.  He enjoys reading, doing crossword puzzles, and genealogy.

He is survived by: his cousins, Glenora Reusch of Cole Camp, and Ruby Christian of Sedalia; and his godchildren, Cheri Flippin Heldstab of Buda, Texas, Kendra Fergerson of Stover, and Jarod Daniels-Block of St. Louis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Catherine Martens, and cousins, Marvin Vajen, Clarence Vajen, and Kenneth Martens.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 21, 2016, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, with Pastor Stephen Zeller officiating.  Burial will be in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Cole Camp.

A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until service time on Sunday at the church.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to St. Paul's Lutheran Church New Building Fund or Oaks Indian Mission in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.

Pallbearers will be Kenneth Weymuth, Steve Pritzel, Vernon Stelling, Dick Culver, Danny Young, Gary Urban, Jimmie Long, and Kyle Weymuth.  Honorary pallbearers will be Sandra Balke, Ron Warren, Dr. Theodore Beltz, Paul Luetjen, and Terry Nelson.