John Martens

He joined the U.S. Army in 1943 at the age of 18. He trained for the Army Air Corps, but as the needs of the war changed he was reassigned to the 124th Calvary Dismounted (Mars Men of Burma). He shipped out in 1944 to India in the campaign to recapture the Burma Road from the Japanese Army. He often told stories of the hundreds of miles they walked behind enemy lines with the mule teams used to carry the ammunition and supplies. He finished his tour of duty in China, and remained as part of the occupation forces until he shipped home and was discharged in January 1946.

He used his G.I. Benefits to obtain a pilot’s license and to train as a watchmaker. He worked at Union Station in Denver, Colorado where, not only was he a watchmaker and jeweler, he was responsible for maintaining all the railroad clocks throughout Colorado, until 1963.

He left watchmaking to become a truck driver, working first on the Ruedi Dam by Glenwood Springs and later for Caissons Drilling Company where he became a superintendent until he retired in 1992. He and his wife then moved to Grand Junction and started their own business building and maintaining water features, ponds and raising water lilies.

As a licensed pilot he loved to fly small planes. He was a avid model builder, both planes and boats, and was a member of Grand Junction Modeleers Club.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Arlyn Martens who died in 2012. He is survived by his three sisters, Eileen, Rose and Mary, his son John and daughter Kimberly and their spouses, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

In keeping with John’s wishes there will not be a memorial service. His ashes will be interred at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Donations in his name can be made to HopeWest Hospice of Grand Junction or the Western Botanical Gardens of Grand Junction, Colorado.