Martin John Verbrugge Jr.

Martin "Marty" Verbrugge passed away peacefully at sunrise on that day, at the age of 90. Born on April 4, 1936, in Yakima, Washington, Marty lived a life rooted in hard work, integrity, generosity, and an unwavering belief in people.

Raised in the Lower Yakima Valley, Marty graduated from Wapato High School before attending Yakima Valley College and serving in the United States Army. Stationed at Fort Lewis, he often joked that he never really left. He liked telling the story of how his superiors appreciated his work ethic so much that they gave him an office job—a small glimpse into the quiet diligence that would become his hallmark. After his military service, he earned a degree from Washington State University in business, then returned home to the family farm. On December 21, 1963, Marty married the love of his life, Judy Hogan. They began their life together in Gleed before settling in the Lower Yakima Valley, where they raised their four children.

A farmer through and through, growing fruit was never just his vocation—it was his passion. He possessed a willingness to see possibilities before others did. Long before Royal City became recognized for its orchards, Marty believed its frost-free ground held tremendous potential. On freezing nights, he drove the area, observing where frost settled and where it didn't. Back home, he drew a line across his frost map and confidently purchased land above it. Others watched to see whether his instincts were right. Time proved they were. Growers followed his lead, while many who planted below his line later found themselves investing in costly frost protection. Marty didn't simply follow the industry—he helped shape it.

His father once challenged him, "I built up the growing side, now you do the next thing." Marty accepted that challenge in 1984 when he and his best friend, Gordon Geffe, founded Valley Fruit. But what made Marty most proud wasn't simply building a successful company—it was building opportunities for people. He created scholarship opportunities, encouraged employees to continue their education, and quietly invested in their futures. He established one of the region's most generous retirement matching programs, often increasing the company's contribution in years when business prospered because he believed success should be shared. At a time when many warehouses offered health insurance only to office staff, Marty insisted every employee receive healthcare coverage. Decades later, some of those employees still remain—a testament to the loyalty he earned by treating people with dignity and respect.

In 1971, Marty and Judy decided to take tennis lessons together. After watching their first lesson, the tennis professional jokingly suggested they might want to consider bowling instead. Fortunately, Marty ignored the advice. Tennis became a lifelong passion and the hub of their social lives. Marty remained a devoted member of the Yakima Tennis Club until his final days and was proud to be a part of the club's first team to compete at the national championships.

His love of the outdoors stretched well beyond the tennis court. Marty skied from his youth, beginning on the rope tow at American River Ski Bowl with his Uncle Joe before serving on the White Pass Ski Patrol. Though Judy didn't ski, Marty loaded all four children into the car and headed to the mountain, sharing with them a sport he loved.

In 1989, Marty and Judy found a special place in Sunriver, Oregon, where they built a vacation home that became a gathering place for family and friends. Sunriver brought together everything Marty loved most—skiing in the winter, tennis in the summer, and fishing nearby streams and lakes. It was a place where generations of family and friends still come together to enjoy the outdoors. Later in life, Judy and Marty shifted to the easygoing lifestyle at Deep Canyon Tennis Club, where they built another beautiful group of friends. Together, Marty and Judy built a life filled with adventure, hospitality, and friendships that lasted a lifetime.

Annual fishing trips to Alaska with lifelong friends John Adkison, John Douglas, Bill Douglas, and Tom Carnevali became treasured traditions, as did fly-fishing adventures with his children through the Yakima River Canyon.

Some of Marty's deepest friendships were shared over a tennis net and a pair of skis. Others were strengthened in orchards, on rivers, and at Washington State football games. A devoted Cougar, Marty would bring his whole family to bowl games, paying for airfare and tickets so everyone could be together. The annual Apple Cup rivalry with the Adkison and Menke families became another cherished tradition, with Marty and Judy hosting at WSU one year and the Adkisons hosting at UW the next.

Above all else, Marty believed family came first. Every Thanksgiving meant gathering with his sister Marilyn’s family, regardless of how many miles or state lines separated them. He also proudly hosted the annual Olson family reunion, believing that bringing generations together year after year was one of life's greatest investments. When his parents grew older, he kept his father at home with the family for as long as possible. Whenever the opportunity arose, he brought his family to visit his mother as Alzheimer's gradually stole her life. Those visits were often difficult, but Marty never stopped showing up. Through those simple acts of faithfulness, he taught his children that love is measured not by convenience, but by presence.

His legacy reaches far beyond the orchards he planted, the businesses he built, or the organizations he helped establish. It lives on in the people he mentored, the employees whose lives he enriched, the friendships he cultivated, and the family he loved. He taught us that the best investments are always in people. In the end, Marty's greatest harvest wasn't measured in boxes of fruit, but in the people whose lives he cultivated with his generosity, integrity, and love.

Marty is survived by his sister Marilyn Feis, his children Peter Verbrugge, Carol Buckingham, Mary Jacky, and John Verbrugge, and his nine grandkids. He was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Florence Verbrugge and his wife Judy.

A celebration of Marty's life will be held at the Yakima Tennis Club, a place that brought him decades of friendship, on Thursday, August 6th at 2pm.

The family asks that those wishing to honor Marty do so by investing in someone else—a student, a coworker, a neighbor, or a friend—as you see fit.