Albert Martens, M.D.

PEKIN ~ Albert Joseph Martens, M.D.,84, of Pekin, passed away at 4:22 a.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at Pekin Hospital. He practiced general surgery in Pekin for over 40 years and was on the medical staff at Pekin Memorial Hospital, St Francis Hospital, and Methodist Hospital.

Born January 14, 1931 in Peoria to Albert V. and Kathryn (Lavin) Martens, he married Yvonne Marie Stanislawski on July 16, 1966 in Milwaukee, WI.

Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Yvonne S. Martens, M.D. of Pekin; two nieces, Nicole Ricci McNelly and Lisa Stanislawski; one nephew, Jeff Stanislawski; grandniece, Sloane McNelly; two grandnephews, Murdoch McNelly and Frazer McNelly; as well as other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Mary Kay Wright.

Raised in Pekin, he was a 1949 graduate of Pekin Community High School and graduated in 1953 from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. with a Bachelor of Science Degree. In 1957, he received his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. He was a member of the Phi Beta Pi Fraternity.

Dr. Martens had a rotating internship at Highland-Alameda County Hospital in Oakland, CA and completed four years of surgery residency there, the last year serving as chief resident. He served as ship’s surgeon for 6 months aboard the American President Cruise Line sailing between California and the Far East.

Dr. Martens was a board certified surgeon and member of The American College of Surgeons and Illinois Surgical Society as well as the American Medical Association, Illinois State Medical Society, and Tazewell County Medical Society.

Dr. Martens spent 2 years in the United States Air Force as base surgeon at the SAC bases in Thule, Greenland, and Lincoln, Nebraska and was a Captain in the USAF medical reserve. He piloted his own Piper Comanche airplane for many years over the United States and Canada and was a multi-engine, instrument, and commercial licensed pilot and anFAA Flight Surgeon.

He was a lifelong member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus Archbishop Schlarman Council #3507 and a life member of Pekin Elk’s Lodge #1271. He held the Commission of Colonel in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

Dr. Martens was an avid hunter and made annual hunting and fishing trips to Canada and enjoyed sharing his duck club in Havana with his father and friends for many years. He was a world traveler and visited many areas of the world with his wife, including Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. He made friends easily around the world with his dry sense of humor. He will surely be forgiven for the times his language melted the ice off the driveway on his way to the hospital. He was a passionate downhill skier and enjoyed many winters skiing in Vail, CO., and summers mountain biking and hiking, having climbed many 14,000 footers in the Rockies. Dr. Martens spent his retirement years between Pekin, Vail, CO, and Tiburon, CA biking aroundSan Francisco Bay, and attending the San Francisco Opera. He always viewed life as an adventure and said death was another adventure not to be feared.

His funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin with Father Michael Andrejek as celebrant. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, with recitation of the Rosary at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in West Peoria, where military rites will be accorded by the United States Air Force.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 303 South 7th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com