AlRoy Vern Martens, 63, of Fisher, IL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 17, 2013 at the VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville, IL. He was born on August 26, 1949 in Hutchinson the son of Vernon and Anna Trass Martens.
A 1967 graduate of Hutchinson High School, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Marymount College, Salina, Kansas in 1982. A Vietnam Veteran of the US Navy from 1967 to 1971 he served on the USS Coral Sea as a Communications Specialist- Radio Operator. He had worked in shipping and packing at Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL. He served as founding member of the Champaign County Table Tennis Club and was the 2011 Illinois Games men’s singles gold medal champion. AlRoy enjoyed gardening, woodworking, music, and sports of all kinds.
He is survived by two children, Abel Martens of Lawrence, KS and Bonny (Zach) Greenlee of Manhattan, KS; longtime companion, Juli Risley; father, Vern, Hutchinson; two brothers, Rainer Martens (Julie) of Ormond Beach, FL and Jay Martens (Margaret) of St. Augustine, FL; a sister, Lori McBride (Traci Lawson) of Hutchinson, KS; a grandson, Colin Greenlee; and nephew, Blazik McBride of Manhattan, KS.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Anna, and his twin brother, LeRoy.
A Celebration of Life for AlRoy will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday August 31st at Dillon Nature Center 3002 East 30th, Hutchinson. Family invites friends to wear comfortable shoes and casual dress. Cremation has taken place. A private family inurnment will be held at Buhler Municipal Cemetery, Buhler.
Friends may sign the register book Thursday and Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. at Penwell Gabel Funeral Home, Hutchinson.
Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to the Champaign County Table Tennis Club c/o Bryant Evans 6706N West Arrowhead Dr., Urbana, IL 61802. Please visit www.penwellgabelhutchinson.com to leave personal condolences for the family.