Kenneth Eugene Martin III

Kenneth Eugene Martin III, lovingly known as Kenny, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026, at the age of 29, after suffering complications related to the fragile heart he carried courageously his entire life.

Kenny was born on October 15, 1996, to Chad and Stacie Martin, and from the very beginning, he defied expectations. Though his life was marked by medical challenges, surgeries, and obstacles that would have broken most people, Kenny met the world with joy, resilience, humor, and a kind of love that was entirely his own.

To know Kenny was to be loved by him.

He never met a stranger. He had a gift for making people feel remembered, included, and important. Kenny loved everybody, but somehow he also loved each person uniquely. Every friendship with Kenny felt special because to him, it truly was.

Kenny was a lifelong sports fanatic and fiercely loyal to his teams. He loved the Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Ole Miss football. Friday night football games were sacred, especially watching his dad coach. Kenny himself played baseball for many years through the Field of Dreams organization and later became an all star Cheerabilities athlete at Zone Cheer, where he proudly competed for five seasons.

He loved trivia nights, karaoke, roller coasters, auctions, slot machines, Marvel movies, Scooby Doo, Bubble Guppies, Disney movies, and chocolate milk. He loved Dave & Buster’s trips with Papa, Wii games with Papa and Nana, pedicures, Legos, character greetings, and Dr Pepper. If you had Netflix or Disney+ in your home, there is a very good chance Kenny created himself a profile on your TV. If he had your phone number, there is an even better chance he called or texted you often.

Kenny also had a memory unlike anyone we’ve ever known. Dates, schedules, movie releases, game times, jersey numbers, rosters, statistics, and random facts lived permanently in his mind. Early on, the elephant became his spirit animal because, truly, Kenny never forgot anything or anyone.

Kenny was born with congenital heart defects and became a cardiac patient on the very first day of his life. At just seven months old, during a procedure meant to save his heart, Kenny suffered a brain injury that changed the course of his development. Yet while that injury affected him intellectually, it somehow expanded his ability to love, teach, comfort, and understand others in ways that continually amazed everyone around him.

Throughout his childhood, Kenny underwent multiple major heart surgeries. At 17 years old, he received an artificial valve that doctors hoped would sustain him for decades to come. His family knew every additional year with Kenny was a gift, but no amount of time could ever feel like enough.

What made Kenny so extraordinary was not that he was different. It was that he was completely and authentically himself in every setting, with every person, every single day. There are many labels the world uses for people like Kenny: exceptional, special needs, different abilities. But the most exceptional thing about Kenny was his unwavering kindness, optimism, sincerity, and joy.

Kenny viewed life and heaven with the same simple certainty. After the passing of his brother Tylar and later his Papa Ken, Kenny often spoke about visiting them in heaven. When his mom once told him she wished she could see Tylar too, Kenny simply responded, “You can too, Mom. You just need to try harder.”

That was Kenny. Pure faith. Pure innocence. Pure love.

His family believes Kenny was welcomed into heaven by an army of angels, reunited with his beloved brother Tylar, his Papa Ken, and all those who went before him. And while the grief left behind feels impossible, Kenny himself would likely remind us not to stay in the sadness forever. He always looked ahead with hope. There was always another game, another season, another reason to believe good things were still coming.

Kenny is survived by his loving parents, Chad and Stacie Martin; his brother, Brandon Rosendale; his sister, Caitlynn Martin; grandparents Loren and Patty Rosendale, Rolayne Martin, and Cindy Martin; his beloved niece, Isla Rosendale; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, teammates, friends, caregivers, and countless people whose lives were changed simply by knowing him.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Tylar Martin; his grandfather, Ken Martin; and his great-grandparents.

Matthew 25:23 says, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

And for Kenny, those words feel especially true.

He really did good.

Service information to follow.