Charlie Joseph Martinka

C.J. Martinka passed away May 2, 2018 at Tru Community Care Hospice. He was 90 years young.

Charlie Joseph (Chuck) Martinka was born October 13, 1927 in New Taiton, Texas to Emma Vojacek Martinka and John Paul Martinka. He was the oldest of five children. Educated in El Campo, Texas public schools, Chuck began working for his Aunt Mary and Uncle Buck in the rice fields of their southern Texas farm when he was a young teenager. It was at this point in his early life that he developed a strong work ethic that would be a hallmark throughout his career. At the very end of World War II, Charlie enlisted in the army when he was 17 and began a 13- year stint in the Army, Air Force, and Reserves from which he exited as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Army. While serving at Lowry Air Force Base in 1947, he was set up on a blind date with Barbara Jean Sheely; they married Dec. 14, 1947 in Fort Collins.

After leaving the Air Force, Chuck had dreams of entering the transport business and purchased a Diamond T truck before he and Barbara headed back to Texas to begin civilian life together. A year later (and after some unfortunate long hauls involving watermelons and pecans), he and Barbara returned to Colorado. At the urging of Barbara’s father, A.C. Sheely, Chuck began working at Sheely Motor Company in Fort Collins where he learned every job from the wash rack to the accountancy. In 1954 Chuck moved to Longmont to open and manage Sheely Motors, Inc. which specialized in Chrysler, Plymouth, and International Harvester vehicles. He owned and managed Sheely Motors until 1984 when Joe Titman purchased the business, and it became Prestige Motors.

During his decades in the car business, Chuck enjoyed meeting people and providing fair service always believing that “you get just about what you pay for.” A brief stint in local politics taught Chuck that our elected officials have to put up with a lot of guff, and he was forever thankful that Al Zlaten soundly thumped him in their Longmont mayoral race.

Chuck and his wife, Barbara, traveled the U.S. widely and especially enjoyed big band riverboat cruises with family and friends. For health reasons, the couple moved to Baytown, Texas where they lived from 1997 until 2004 when they returned to Longmont. After almost sixty-five years of marriage, Barbara predeceased Chuck on May 13, 2013. Additionally, his beloved grandson Jay Knaus predeceased him on February 2, 2017.

At a time when most fellows were considering retirement, Chuck had an idea—to develop a small turn signal cam that would replace a bulky switch in automobiles. It was 1970 and Chuck persuaded a small group of friends to invest in Shee-Mar, the company he established to manufacture and distribute the cams. Before the age of internet sales, Chuck and Barbara traveled the country and sold turn signal cams while seeing America, —all the best parts—junkyards and parts stores! They had great fun while “on the road” together. In 1997 Scott Sheely Farrell, Chuck’s nephew, became the President of Shee-Mar. Chuck remained active in the company until 2007.

Chuck was a member of LifeBridge Christian Church, the American Legion, the Elks Club and he was a charter member of the Moose and Optimist Clubs in Longmont.

Always proud of his family and a great proponent of education, Chuck wanted his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to take advantage of educational opportunities at every turn. He is survived by his daughters Sally Gaddis (John) and Sue Knaus (Michael), six grandchildren: John Gaddis (Kate), Christopher Gaddis (Katie), Katie Gaddis Castillo (Bryan Castillo), Carrie Rubino (Nick), Kirk Knaus, Julie Knaus; and, seven great-grandchildren Aiden, Grant, Cole, Clare, Ty, and Griffin Gaddis and Eli Rubino.

A family memorial service will be held at Howe Mortuary at 10 a.m. Monday, May 7. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Meals on Wheels (920 Longs Peak Ave. Longmont 80501) or A Woman’s Work (PO Box 817 Longmont 80502).