Martens, Kenneth R.

Kenneth R. Martens, 63, of Marengo, died Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at his home following an extended illness. Funeral services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 17, at First Presbyterian Church, Marengo, with the Rev. Gerald Rife officiating. Burial will be in Marengo Cemetery, with military honors conducted by Marengo American Legion Post 76. Visitation: 3 to 8 p.m. today at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo.

A memorial fund has been established.

He is survived by his wife, Deania Rudder Martens; two daughters, Alicia Bean (Craig) of Marion and Misty Klendworth (Bruce) of Coggon; a stepbrother, Gary Hash (Marsha) of Brooklyn; and a stepsister, Reta Martens of Chino Hills, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Henry Martens and Alice Jacobi Martens; and his stepmother, Hallie Martens.

Kenneth Richard Martens was born Aug. 13, 1946, in Belle Plaine, Iowa, the son of Richard Henry Martens and Alice Jacobi Martens. He attended the Hartwick schools and graduated from HLV High School in Victor in 1964. He served in the U.S. Army for three years. Kenneth received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting in 1971 and his law degree in 1974 from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He married Deania Rudder in Tennessee. The couple moved to Marengo in 1974.

Kenneth served as assistant Iowa County attorney for a year and was elected and served as Iowa County attorney for 24 years. He also served as Marengo City Attorney from 2000 to 2010. Ken operated Swift and Martens Law Office in Marengo from 1975 until 1987, which then became Martens Law Office which he continued to operate to this day. Ken was a partner in Park and Martens Law Office in Victor from 1979 to 1981 which then became Park, Martens and Stiefel. Kenneth remained with the firm until 2001. He also owned and operated Swift Abstract Co. in Marengo since 1975.

Kenneth was a 35-year member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa County Attorney's Association and secretary-treasurer of the Iowa County Bar Association. He was a member of the Marengo Rotary Club, service officer of American Legion Post 76, and a past member of the Marengo Memorial Hospital Board. Kenneth was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Marengo and also served as an elder.

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