Edward Urban Martin

Edward U. Martin, age 91, of Prior Lake, formerly a longtime resident of Brainerd, died on Friday, July 16, 2021 at New Perspective Senior Living just three days short of his 92nd Birthday.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, July 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church, Brainerd. Family and friends are invited to gather for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Evergreen Memorial Gardens where he will be laid to rest beside his wife.

Edward was born on July 19, 1929 to Carl and Eva (Doucette) Martin in Duluth. Ed was a hard-working linotype operator at Lakeland Color Press until it closed.  He worked tirelessly and really enjoyed his time at Viking Press in Eden Prairie and last, but not least Bang Printing in Brainerd until his retirement.  He was an avid fisherman often catching his limit of Walleyes and Crappies, especially Crappies.   Edward married his loving wife of 68 years, Jeannette Killian at St. Francis Catholic Church on January 31, 1953. They loved to dance, and both were very good dancers. Ed was very social and easily made friends. He celebrated life with friends at the Brainerd Legion, and many other hot spots throughout the Brainerd and Nisswa areas most weekends. They loved to travel and spent several winters in Arizona.  Most of all they loved spending time with their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren whenever possible.

Ed joined the Army in 1946 and was given the title “Railway Traffic Man” (at the ripe old age of 17) in Italy during WWII.  He also partook in the Chinese Communist Forces Intervention Campaign. He received the Korean Service Medal during his time while supporting the Korean Army as an Advisor. He was also an Engineer of Photographic Reproduction with the 8199th Army Detachment Unit APO 301. He spoke of the shenanigans with his buddies and his brother John Martin, who left on the boat with him to Korea at the same time. He ended his Army career in 1951.

Edward is survived by his children, Debra (Bruce) Esse, of Eagan, Joseph (Teresa) Martin, of Appleton, MN, LuAnn (Owen) Holleman, of Siren, WI, Gwendolyn (Rodney) Schwartz, of Siren, WI, and Patricia (Dwight) Affeldt, of Orono, MN; grandchildren, Beth, Kyle, Christina, Joe Jr. Anita, Shannon, Brendan, Ginalee, Adam, Nathan, Paul “P.J.”, and Michael; 18 great-grandchildren; brother and best friend Charles “Chuck” (Joann) and many extended family members and beloved friends. 

He is preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Jean Martin; and one great-granddaughter, Maddie, his parents and 2 brothers John and Melvin.

Ed loved life. He rarely swore, didn’t lie and lived by high principles, which he expected everyone else to live by as well. His legacy lives on in every one of his offspring, We each strive to hold Ed’s same principles. Ed Martin will be dearly missed, but we know he is with Jesus, celebrating pain-free dancing, golfing, fishing, flying an airplane with perfect eyesight, and just swapping Earthly stories in Heaven.

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