Henry "Buddy" Martens, age 88 of Lafayette died Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 am on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Pastor Grant Bode will officiate, and burial will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday, April 28, 2023 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home - SOUTH CHAPEL in New Ulm, and continue from 10:00-11:00 am on Saturday at the church.

To leave an online condolence for his family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Buddy is survived by his children, Linda (Ron) Erickson of Albert Lea, LuAnn (John) Guse of Mapleton, Joan (Steve Baker) Martens of Mankato,  Michael (Judy) Martens of New Ulm, Karen (Jon) Gerths of Ankeny, IA., Paul (Julie) Martens of Lafayette, Elisabeth (John) Rollmann of Chilton, WI., Jill (Alan) Fazio of Fergus Falls; his grandchildren, Jodi (Tim) Westrum, Nathan Erickson, Nancy (Andrew) Schnable, Stacy (Roger) Vogt, Peter Guse, Steve Baker Jr., Trisha (Travis) Nelsen, Michael Gus Martens, Melissa (Justin) Weston, David (Brittany) Gerths, Allison Gerths, Joshua (Brittany) Martens, Amber (Curt) Thoreson, Alicia (Michael) Meinzer, Matthew Rollmann, Jacob (Haley) Rollmann, Chance Fazio and Lauren Fazio; 22 great-grandchildren; brothers, Carl Martens, Ken Martens; sisters Janice (Ted) Hundeby and Anita Davis.  Brother and sister-in-laws, Ron Renner, Vivian (Harold) Ulrich, Sheila Swanson and Shirley Lindberg; many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife who passed on their 63rd wedding anniversary, August 28 ^th , 2017. His parents; Henry Sr. and Christine Martens; brothers, LeRoy (Evelyn) Martens, Harvey (Doloras) Martens, Robert (Carol) Martens; sister, Marlys Renner; sister-in-laws, Dorothy Martens, Dorothy (Dort) Martens; brother-in-laws, Tom Davis, Herbert Bader Jr. Larry Lindberg, sister-in-law Ione (Maynard) Abraham, his mother-in-law and father-in-law. Herbert and Zula Bader.

Henry Fredrick Martens Jr. was born August 17, 1934 in New Ulm, Minnesota to Henry and Christine (Ulrich) Martens. He was baptized on September 2, 1934 and confirmed on April 10, 1949 at Brighton Lutheran Church. He attended New Ulm High School and the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture. He married Darlene Bader on August 28, 1954 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Courtland. After marriage, Buddy took over the family farm as the fourth-generation farm owner. On February 9, 1953 he enlisted in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged October 30, 1956. In addition to dairy and grain farming, Buddy was a Dealer for Archer Oil and Jacques Seeds and later Mycogen Seeds. Buddy was also very involved and dedicated to Redeemer Lutheran Church serving as an elder and a member of other church boards and committees over the years. He served on the Lafayette Co-op Board and also the Lafayette School Board. He loved spending winters in Texas and enjoyed the annual family campouts. His love and pride for family was evident in the smile on his face when he was with them. Buddy also had a passion for helping those less fortunate in anonymous ways. Buddy will most be remembered for his gift of joke telling, especially Ole and Lena jokes. His hearty and contagious laugh will be missed but the memories of the joy he brought to others will be cherished.

Buddy's family would like to thank the caring staff at DaVita Dialysis in New Ulm and Oak Hills Living Center for your amazing care for Buddy during his final months.

Memorials may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church.

The Lord's work must go on.