Stanley “Stan” Martin Obituary (1931

Stanley "Stan" Martin, 86, of Carpentersville, passed away on May 5, 2018 at JourneyCare in Barrington, IL. He was born in Fort Lupton, CO on May 14, 1931 to his loving parents, John and Sylvia Martin (nee Hendrickson). Stan served his country with the United States Army during the Korean War. He had some favorite Korean war stories he told through the years, but he told one recently that he hadn't told before. Perhaps it was because there is no humor in it, or he didn't want to highlight his accomplishments. While serving as a U.S. Army Corporal, he helped lead a decision against orders to burn an impoverished village to the ground. He and others in his unit could not bring themselves to harm the villagers in this way. The commanding officer decided to let Stan and his unit make the choice to spare the village. This has now become Stan's family's favorite story, which reveals his character of kindness and concern for others. Stan chose accounting as a career after returning from Korea. He took an International Accounting Course in which he excelled, and after working for several years for Washington State, he ventured into hospital accounting. His first employment in the health care field was in a mission hospital on the Navajo Reservation in Monument Valley, Utah. In 1974 he was accepted as an Advanced Member of the Hospital Financial Management Association. In 1976 he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Atlantic Union College in Business in Administration. In 1985 he became a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in the State of Maine and worked as an administrator until he retired. Stan and met his wife Helen in the Stone Tower SDA Church in Portland, Oregon. After two years of courting they were married in in 1959 and have journeyed through 58 years together, raising two children. He was a man whose faith in God became strong and well-grounded over the years. He was always an active participant in church life, particularly with musical activities, and came to have a close relationship with Christ, which he shared with his family. Stan was perhaps best known over the years for his quick sense of humor and love of a good joke. He found a way to make those around him smile and laugh, even in recent years and months when he struggled with ill health. He always wanted to go shopping if an electric cart was available, often challenging fellow shoppers who were also in an "electric chariot" to a race. He kept the hospital staff smiling with his timely remarks like to the lab tech drawing blood, "Please don't take all of it!" and to a nurse who had to lift his limp arm, "Would you like to arm wrestle?" Stan loved music and pursued an active avocation for many years as a tenor in quartets and gospel vocal groups, many of which he organized. He had a quick musical ear and could play guitar, piano and drums as well. Family road trips often involved impromptu harmonization for any number of songs from gospel tunes to "This Land is Your Land." In recent years he was once again singing in a church quartet until his hearing was so diminished that he couldn't hear his part. It was a sad day when he knew he wouldn't be singing with a quartet again. Soccer was his favorite sport-a sport played with much enthusiasm during his younger years in Portland, Oregon. He started and organized a soccer league in Olympia, Washington so he could continue playing after moving from Portland. While Greg and Darla were growing up, outdoor recreation in various national parks was a favorite family past time-hiking, camping, canoeing, and boating in a small, barely water-worthy vessel rightfully dubbed the v??Leaky Teaky. Upon retirement, tent camping had lost it's appeal, but traveling, sightseeing and camping were enjoyed once again in a comfortable RV. After Stan retired, he discovered the thrill of treasure hunting (T-H-ing): scanning parks, beaches, and his own back yard with his beloved metal detector. He found "treasures" in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and in various places between PEI and Newport Beach, California, but nothing that he had to report on his income tax! He and granddaughter Maggie were thrilled to find only a dime, even if that was their entire loot for the day. Stan is survived by his loving wife, Helen L Martin; children Darla Martin Tucker, of California; Greg Martin, of Illinois, Karen Martin Clement of Oregon and Scot Martin, of Alaska; niece Leslie Trantum, of Washington State; and ten grandchildren. Stan was preceded in death by his sister, Dayle Martin. Memorial Service will be held 11:00a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Elgin Seventh-Day Adventist, 1141 Bode Rd, Elgin. Interment will be private. Arrangements entrusted to Symonds-Madison Funeral Home, 305 Park St., Elgin IL 60120. For more information call 847-741-1128 or visit www.symondsmadisonfuneralhome.com.