Abe Martin

Abe Martin

April 1, 1928 – January 11, 2011

Abe was born on April 1, 1928 in Roland Manitoba to Abram and Margaret Martens. On September 11, 1949 Abe and Anne (nee Fehr) were married at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Brunkhild, Manitoba where they had also both been confirmed. In the years that followed their marriage they were blessed with four children; Caroline, Donald, Belinda and Jacqueline.

In 1956, Abe and Anne moved to Vancouver and Abe was employed by BC Electric known later as BC Gas. In 1971 they moved to Clearbrook, and later, in 1986, to a small acreage in Mission. All this time Abe commuted to work in the Vancouver and Burnaby areas and until he retired in 1991. Abe and Anne were saddened at the sudden death of their daughter Belinda, who was killed in a car accident the same year. In 1993 they settled in Chilliwack and enjoyed their retirement years together until Anne’s death in May of 1998.

Abe enjoyed his music and playing his guitar; it was an important part of his life. He also enjoyed fishing and camping with his family and in later years he was known for walking his 7 kilometers every day, stopping for his daily Tim Horton’s coffee and to meet up with friends. Abe enjoyed his home, his camping trips to Kalamalka Lake and took pride in his family. In 1999 he traveled to Indonesia to visit Don and his family and for his 80th birthday, his family surprised him with an Alaskan cruise.

In December 2010 Abe was admitted to Chilliwack General Hospital with an aggressive form of Pulmonary Fibrosis and he took his last breath in Surrey Memorial Hospital on January 11, 2011. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren during the last few weeks in the hospital and they shared some special moments together.

Abe was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Jacob, Harry and John and sisters, Susan and Peggy; his wife, Anne and daughter Belinda. He is survived by his sisters, Annette and Helen; daughter, Caroline (Ray); son, Donald (Patricia); daughter, Jacqueline (Sam); seven grandchildren: Brent (Erica), Kevin (Christine), Kristina (Craig), Joel, Steven, Sarah and Amanda; and great granddaughters, Lily and Monet. He was also happy to hear of the two great grandchildren who will be born later this year.

Arrangements under the direction of Woodlawn Funeral Home, Abbotsford, BC.