Rick was my very first counselor and did amazing things for me and my family. He helped is all in so many ways. In my parent’s marriage, my mom’s bipolar and my extreme depression. I’ve spoken of him for so many years in advocacy of encouraging others to seek therapy. Later in life, he was my marriage counselor and was also tremendous during this time by making sure that even though we didn’t have insurance, he would help care for me. I met with him and and his amazing wife at hy-vee and these are just incredible moments I’ll never forget it. 
Today, 12 years since my last session with him, I sought out to return to him for therapy with Telehealth being the thing of 2020 only to discover the sad news of his passing. My heart goes out so much to all of his family. Rick made such an incredible impact on my whole family’s lives with knowledge that we will pass down to our future generations. He will forever live on and his love and and messages are a legacy. 

Rick- I admired your selflessness , graciousness   and realism.  You were a vessel and planted many seeds. I am thankful for the oppurtunity to have met you.  Hasta Luego!  

Rick was such a kind compassionate human being. Not only was he my counselor, he was a role model. He will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to Rick's family. 

Rick saved my life.   I called today to schedule an appointment with Rick and I learned that God had called him home.  It had been about a month since we talked and I had so much to share with him.  Rick was one of a kind and uniquely gifted as a therapist and counselor.  He had this amazing ability to cut thru the walls that surround traditional, faithless therapy and showed me how Gods love could help me unlock the chains of my childhood trauma that had affected me negatively my whole life.  I am now a better person because of Rick’s guidance and wisdom. The tools he taught me to use to disarm the negative voices have transformed me, changed me and will forever be a part of my life.  To be in Rick’s care was very much a gift from God.   Like I said.... Rick saved my life.   

So sorry to hear about the passing of Rick ! Loss of words right now but Rick shared lots of memories of when you two were first married and I never laughed so hard in my life with the stuff Rick said he learned the hard way. 
Frank Berka 

So sorry to hear about Rick's passing. Diane, I am sorry that I couldn't be there but I just got back in the US last night. If I can help in any way, please email me and I will send you my phone number.

Diane-

Sharon and I send our love and support.  We cannot imagine how difficult this if for you, to have your lives together cut short.  There is no way to understand this; we grieve with you.

We have fond memories of the two of you and being in small group with you guys.  We were inspired by Rick's faith and devotion to God and His people.

May God comfort you.

Jeff and Sharon Newburn

I was fortunate to have Rick as my supervisor while I was working towards obtaining my counseling license.  I also worked for his wife, Diane, at the Salvation Army providing counseling to clients there.  Diane is one of the hardest working and the most genuine person I have ever known and Rick portrayed a level of decency and confidence that I am still trying to emulate.  I learned so much from these two remarkable people.  Rick opened a lot of doors for me and I will never forget what he did for me.  Every time I meet with a client…every time that I make a difference in someone’s life…it is because of Rick Martenson.  Thank you sir and may God bless you and your family.           

Rick was my new therapist of only about a month. He was by far the best professional I have had in 37 years. I will take away many life lessons from Rick. I send my deepest condolences and prayers, and I know Rick will continue to guide me through my trials and tribulations in life here on earth from heaven above.
God bless you Martenson family.
Sincerely,
Gary Goins

I will miss Rick at QC Counselors.  I first meet Rick at a work shop where he was the presenter.

I first came to know Rick in a meditation class at Southpark Psychology.  I found him to be compassionate with a gentle spirit and a deep desire to serve his clients with energy and wisdom.  When I joined with him at QC Counselor, I saw even more clearly his drive to serve others and to build QC Counselor to the successful practice it has become.  I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to work with Rick as he became not just a colleague  but a confidant and friend.  QC Counselor will go on and thrive but Rick's  presence, especially his laugh, will be deeply missed.   My heart goes out to Diane.  He said often that his wife was better than he deserved.  And to  the family,  some of whom I have had the privilege to know and find them as warm and capable as  Rick.  Too soon gone but rest in peace. 

Was shocked to hear of Dr Rick passing. My husband David seen Dr Rick for almost 10years. He was a great man to all who came in contact with him. He will always be remembered.

Our deepest sympathy to Diane and the family on Rick's passing.  We still think about the fantastic times we had together when we lived "across the backyard" from you.  Rick's gorilla ad stills brings a chuckle to us when we see a garage door opener advertisement.  Great stuff!  And the parties with "Tall Paul" and Cal made for some of the best times of our lives.  We missed you all when we moved away and we are so sorry to hear of Rick's passing.  He was a really neat person and one we always considered a friend.  Rest in peace, Rick.

I am very saddened by your family's loss of such a wonderful person. I was looking forward to meeting with Rick as he has been working with my son who is in rehab at the salvation army rehab center. My son has been suffering a severe addiction and had been to 5 previous treatment facilities with no success. He suffered the trauma of being burned in a fire at the age of two and a half. He was also accused of being the one that started the fire which his younger brother who was 19 months old died in. The morning after the fire the Quad City Times put on the front page the headline Brother Ignites Fire That Kills Infant with a picture of my 19 month old son. Nobody was ever able to give us a definitive cause of the fire. I should have gotten rid of this newspaper but I had saved it and when my surviving son was 15 he found the article and began having episodes of depression. Everything culminated in the severe addiction and finally he wound up at the salvation army where my son began seeing Rick's wife for counseling and she set it up for my son to see Rick to undergo therapy for post traumatic stress disorder. This has made a huge difference in my son's life and he is getting things on track and has been clean for over 3 months.  He wanted to be able to say a special thank you to Rick when he graduates the program as he said that the therapy with Rick has taken away the guilt and nightmares he has suffered since finding that newspaper. I want to say a special thank you to his family. God, Rick, his wife and the salvation army have given my son back his life with a hopeful future and they have given me my son back. I am so thankful to God for putting this man in my son's life and to Rick for being there to help my son as nobody else had been able to do this. He has made the lives of everyone in my family infinitely better by being there for my son from myself to grandparents siblings and many others. My he enjoy his eternal reward in Heaven. 
Sincerely Devera DeVol-Che

My condolences to Rick's family. He was a compassionate man who truly cared about everyone he met. And he was a great communicator - I always looked forward to talking with him. He will be greatly missed. 

A friend for over 50 years, we first met at the end of his high school years.  His wife is my cousin and we all went to college together, sharing many wonderful adventures.  His wit, charm and intelligence, all held together with a great sense of humor (he and Jesus are hangin’ out having such fun trading witticisms), will be missed.  My condolences to his entire family.  You miss him so much because you had a great man at the heart of your family.  And he left you his greatest gift: each other.

Rick will be greatly missed. He taught me so much about being a clinician and helped me grow as a professional in ways I never imagined possible. He cared for his patients, as well as his profession, and he gave selflessly to improving both. It is hard to imagine QC Counselor without him, I can only hope we are able to honor his legacy and carry his spirit forward in our practice.

Loyal spouse, dedicated father and grandfather, entrepreneur, actor, wit, heck of a cook, friend to many, compassionate counselor to the distraught, literary, musical, believer and teacher, a man for all seasons,  Rick would want nothing but a season of peace for all with his passing.  Please God, continue to bless his family.  They are all wonderful.

Faults? Only attributable to my lack of perception. Prior to he and Diane going on to grad school, for a long time in his many do it yourself construction projects around the house and when they were in a remodeling faze in their screen print shop locations, (which was always) Rick insisted on using a hammer that was missing a claw. Nothing was really worthless. I am a tool guy but Rick could get more laid out, cut and hammered together with that hammer and a handsaw before I even gathered my exquisite tools. Really remarkable craftsmanship on its own but also indicative of Rick's (and Diane's) approach to life and people. No one is without worthy function.

My deepest condolences to your family.  Rick was an amazing and gracious man.  I had the pleasure of meeting him in grad school and have made many professional referrals to him over the years as one of the most effective therapists in the QC.   May his legacy and his ability to change the lives of others live on through his family.  

There was no better TV talker than Rick Martenson.   As a regular guest on my show as our QC Counselor,  Rick spoke about the hard things of life with great heart, wisdom and eloquence.  He was just on the air with me last Friday, so this news of his passing is especially sad and shocking.  I feel his advice for us in  this situation would be to look at the people in our lives with renewed  appreciation.   We never know when we’ve seen someone for the last time.   We love you, Rick.  Thank you for helping so many hurting people.   I’m praying for the peace of Jesus to cover and comfort his dear family.  

Working with Rick at Family Resources led to our friendship. Rick was a great influence in my life at that time close to 20 years ago and the encouragement I received from him helped lead me to Christ...and golf! Last year, I reached out to Rick during a personal struggle and received the same encouragement...it was great to get reconnected. My deepest sympathies to Diane and the entire family. God bless you with peace and comfort that surpasses all understanding.

To the Martenson Family,

I am sorry for your loss. I only had the pleasure of knowing Rick and working for him for a few months. In that time I could see he was a great caring man who touched the lives of many. I am very saddened that he is no longer with us, there was so much more that many wanted to learn from him including myelf.  My thoughts are with you in your time of sadness, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. 

Rick M. Martenson Memorial Scholarship

Visitation

Celebration of Life

Robert Ben Martenson

Dorothy (Long) Martenson

Diane (Blough) Martenson

Christine (Chuck) Soncarty

David (Lori) Martenson

Kevin (Jaimi) Goetz

Matthew (Tara) Martenson

Mary Mertens

Kitty Martenson

Margaret (Heiner) Els

John Long

Helen Long

Also left to cherish his memory are his grandchildren Killian, Bainbridge, Jennifer, Bennett, Campbell, Lucas, Zoe, Patrick, Emmelia, Noah, Colin, Jacob, Max, and Owen.

OBITUARY

Rick Michael Martenson

February 16, 1950 – June 17, 2018

The Runge Mortuary & Crematory

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