Robert Brantzel Martin

Robert Brantzel Martin, 90, of Ames, Iowa, formerly of Davenport, died Feb. 14, 2024, at Northcrest Retirement Community, Ames. He is remembered by family and friends as an energetic, hard-working man with a witty sense of humor. His memorial service will be Saturday, May 4 at Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport. Visitation begins at 12:30 pm and the service at 2 pm. Memorials may be made to the Northcrest Community Foundation, St. John’s United Methodist Church, or Oakdale Memorial Gardens Oaktree Fund.

Robert (Bob) was born Nov. 29, 1933, at Mercy Hospital, Davenport, to William E. and Carmela (Brantzel) Martin. He married Mona Kadel of Taylor Ridge, IL on April 7, 1956, and they spent nearly 68 happy years together. Bob graduated from Davenport High School with the Class of 1952. One of Bob’s interests was music: he was a member of both band and orchestra through school, and while attending St. Ambrose University. Bob played percussion for the Tri-City Symphony Orchestra beginning in 1951 and served seven years as the orchestra’s stage manager and librarian. He also played summer concerts in Quad-City parks.

In 1955, Bob founded his masonry business, The Robert Martin Company, building and designing masonry structures throughout the Quad-Cities. The Martin family had been in the masonry business since the 1920s when Bob’s grandfather founded a brick and clay tile manufacturing factory along the Mississippi River at LeClaire. In 1967, Bob purchased seven acres of land where he constructed and leased commercial/industrial buildings and manufactured pre-stressed concrete roof and floor systems. In the 1970’s, Bob became a field representative for J.A. Nearing Co., selling and constructing greenhouses across Iowa and Illinois. Bob served as a clerk in the State of Iowa Legislature from 1993-2001.

Bob was active in Boy Scouts; starting at age 10 and going on to achieve the rank of Eagle. He attended the National Jamboree at Valley Forge in 1950 as a Scout and again in 1957 as Scoutmaster. As an Explorer Scout Advisor, Bob took his Scouts on Boundary Water canoe trips in Minnesota.

Bob served his community in many ways. As president of the Quad-City Association of Mason Contractors, he spearheaded the construction of the Cerebral Palsy School, organizing the donation of materials and labor. He also donated time and material to both Boy and Girl Scout Camps in Scott County. Bob was a leader of several DHS Class of ’52 Reunion Committees and was responsible for digitalizing the class records and maintaining communication with classmates across the country. Bob cultivated tropical orchids and donated hundreds to the Quad City Botanical Center.

Bob had eclectic hobbies. He had an early fascination for ornithology. On a road trip to Mexico after graduation he identified 118 birds! Later Bob preferred air travel: he was an instrument-rated pilot, who over the years, owned and flew 3 airplanes: an Ercoupe, Piper Cherokee 160 and a Mooney Executive. Bob was a world traveler; combining his interest in culture, birding, and genealogy. In his quest for family history records, Bob traveled to innumerous archives in the US and Europe. Bob and Mona traveled to all continents except Antarctica.

Survivors include: his wife, Mona, brother, William (Julie) Martin of LeClaire; daughter Beth (Peter) Martin, Ames, son, Charles (Heather) Martin, Davenport, grandchildren, Nora (Andrew) Peterson, Lincoln, NE, Kai (Ann) Martin, Oregon, WI, and Glenn (Beautia) Martin, Bemidji, MN, and 5 great-grandchildren: Lorelei, Effi and Tristan Peterson, and Vera and Sylvie Martin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Mary Dailey and brother, Michael Martin.

Burial will be in Oakdale Memorial Gardens, Davenport.