Kenneth William Martens, age 83, of New Ulm was called to his heavenly home on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Bernadotte Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Pastor Kathleen Ulland-Klinkner will officiate. Burial will follow in the Bernadotte Lutheran Cemetery where the Lafayette Honor Guard will provide full military honors.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, May 5, 2023 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – South Chapel in New Ulm. Visitation will continue from 9:30-11 a.m. Saturday at the Bernadotte Lutheran Church in Lafayette.

To leave an online condolence for the family, or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org .

Ken is survived by his daughters, Jackie (Bob) Helget, Sara (Doug) Hoffmann, Theresa Kampa; grandchildren, Katie (Trifon) Theodosopoulos, Brandon (fiancé Jessie) Helget, Jessica (Dillon) Kober, Mitchell (Tiffany) Hoffmann, Ryan (Chelsie) Hoffmann, Kelsey Kampa, and Alyssa Kampa; great-grandchildren, Sarantis and Eleni Theodosopoulos, Waylon and Loretta Hoffmann, Blaire and Rhett Hoffmann, and baby Kober; brother, Carl Martens; sisters, Jan (Ted) Hundeby, Anita Davis; brother-in-law, Ron Renner; sisters-in-law, Karen Dungan, Conni (Randy) Fugleberg; and many nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Fay Martens; his parents, Henry Sr. and Christine Martens; brothers, LeRoy (Evelyn) Martens, Harvey (Doloras) Martens, Robert (Carol) Martens, Henry Jr. (Darlene) Martens; sister, Marlys Renner; brother-in-law, Tom Davis; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Martens.

Ken was born on July 21, 1939, son of Henry Sr. and Christine (Ulrich) Martens. He grew up on the family dairy farm east of Lafayette. Later, his family moved to St. Peter and Ken attended St. Peter High School.

After graduation of high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. During that time, he received the "Winged S" Air Rescue Emblem where he was on the helicopter ambulance of the 52 ^nd Medical Team. The team flew five injured German workmen to a hospital after a bridge construction job collapsed into the main river.

After returning from duty, he attended the U of M and received an Associates of Arts degree.

While in college, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Dungan. They were married on August 18, 1963. They moved to a farm Southeast of Lafayette where they operated a hog and crop farm for 12 years.

During that farming period, Ken began to sell livestock equipment on a dealer level. As the business grew, he started working as a regional salesperson and managed a warehouse for distribution of equipment in the Midwest.

In 1965, Ken and Dorothy began their business, Martens Distributing, on their farm in rural Lafayette. The business moved to Courtland in 1974. In 1975, Courtland Concrete Products was purchased and became a division of Martens Distributing. Courtland Concrete manufactured complete slated floor systems.

In 1985, Courtland Landscape Products was created and production of concrete paver stones was started. The machine that manufactured the paving stone came from Germany.

A few years later, the companies were combined and then named Courtland Industries.

A sincere "Thank You" to New Ulm Medical Center, Oak Hills Living Center, and the Allina Hospice Team.