***NOTICE CHANGE OF SERVICE DATE AND TIME***

NICOLLET

Oliver F. Martens, age 94 of rural Nicollet died peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at the Ecumen Prairie Hill Senior Living Community in St. Peter.

Funeral service will be held at 3 pm on Monday, December 26th, 2022 , at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nicollet.  Pastor Micah Plocher will officiate, and burial will follow in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in rural Nicollet.

Visitation will now be held from 1-3 pm on Monday, December 26th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nicollet.

The Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes are assisting the family with arrangements at this time.

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

Oliver is survived by his daughters, Sheri (Mike) Collins of Lake Washington, Shelly (Dale) Buser of Port Washington, Wisconsin; his son, Tom (Joan) Martens of Nicollet; his grandchildren; Jeremy Martens, Jaime (Adam) Lint, Justin (Jill) Martens, Erik (Brittany) Collins, Melissa (Shaun) Mickelson, Kelly (Bob) Petrasek, Amy Collins; his great-grandchildren, Conner, Lydia, Alayna, Amelia, Emma, Nolan, Jayce, Colin, Kaylee, Carter; his sister, Marilyn Bakke of White Bear Lake; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Sarah Martens; his wife, Pearl Martens in 2016; his brother and sister-in-law, Orlyn and Marilyn Martens; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Duane and Pat Poehler, Woody and Alice Thompson, Harley and Sylvia Hulke; and his brother-in-law, Allen Bakke.

Oliver Fred Martens was born May 8, 1928, in New Ulm to Alvin and Sarah (Maas) Martens.  He attended Trinity grade school and Nicollet High School before going to work on his family's farm.  Oliver was united in marriage to Pearl Poehler on August 15, 1950, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Courtland.  This union blessed the couple with two daughters and a son whom together they raised on their farm that Oliver purchased in 1952.  Together with his wife Pearl, Oliver worked as a hardworking and dedicated farmer who had an affinity to green and yellow tractors his entire life.  He also worked as a mechanic for some time at the Schultz Chevy Garage.  In his retirement, he and Pearl enjoyed many good years traveling to, and wintering in southern Texas.  Besides his work on the farm, Oliver and Pearl enjoyed frequenting local dance halls where they could dance the polka and waltz.  As a loyal farmer, Oliver spent 15 years serving on the Elevator Board.  He was a devout member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nicollet where he served on their church board, cemetery board, as well as the school board for many years.  Oliver was proud of his faith, and his farm, but what he was most proud of was his family.  He enjoyed every moment he got to spend with them, and especially loved getting to see his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow.  He will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.  Blessed be his memory.

Mvfh.org