Martin 'Marty' Junge

MARTIN JOHN "MARTY" JUNGE

Van Horne

Martin John "Marty" Junge, 67, passed away Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, at his home in Van Horne following a sudden illness. A visitation will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, at Philips Funeral Home in Keystone. A private family burial will take place Friday morning, Aug. 27, and his life will be honored with a luncheon and celebration of life at noon Friday, Aug. 27, with a memorial service at the Keystone Turner Hall.

Marty was born May 11, 1954, to Irvin and Betty Junge in Cedar Rapids. He grew up on the family farm in Keystone and graduated from Benton Community in 1972. He attended Muscatine Community College and graduated in 1974. He married his wife Kristie Jurgens on March 29, 1980.

He worked at O'Grady Chemical and, in 1987, he and Kris bought the company. Over the next 33 years, he grew O'Grady Chemical and put his heart and soul into it. In September 2020, he sold O'Grady Chemical and was set to officially retire this September after working there for 47 years.

Marty was a member of the Van Horne Businessmen, the Benton Development Group, Tara Hills Country Club, and supported the Turner Hall in any way he could.

In 2002, he became a member of the Van Horne City Council and was elected mayor of Van Horne in 2012, which he continued to do up until his passing. He spent the past 21 years working to make this a great community to live in. He took a lot of pride in his small town and wanted everyone else to do the same. He worked tirelessly after the Derecho to help everyone and anyone who needed it.

He and Kris spent their life running the business and raising their children, having Friday nights in the garage with their friends and hosting family gatherings. They also loved their winter vacations to St. Martin and the friends they made there.

His favorite job began 14 years ago when he became a grandpa. His grandchildren adored him, knew where his secret candy stash for them was, and would beg for golf cart rides. He loved to take them on random adventures and spend days with them in the pool.

Marty and his family were recently blessed with a beautiful vacation to their favorite place, Bethany Beach, Delaware, and will forever cherish those memories.

Marty is survived by his wife of 41 years, Kris; their two sons, Nathan (Tami) Junge of Atkins and Noah (Meghann) Junge of Jesup; and their daughter, Megan Junge of Cedar Rapids; his seven grandchildren, Laura, Cael and Jacob Junge of Atkins, and Mason, Claire, Colin and Dylan Junge of Jesup; his father, Irk Junge; his brother, Jerry (Karen) Junge; his sister, Terry (Lonnie) Carney; mother-in-law, Shirley Jurgens; sisters-in-law, Lori (Darwin) Meyer and Tracy Jurgens; brother-in-law, Dave (Kellee) Jurgens; 22 nieces and nephews; numerous friends; employees who were family; and a community he cared for deeply.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Junge; father-in-law, Dean Jurgens; and his brother-in-law, Rick Jurgens

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for Van Horne Park at Chelsea Savings Bank in Van Horne.

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.