Jakob Martens passed away peacefully in the Lethbridge Regional Hospital on January 10, 2012.

He was born January 30, 1920 in Nieukerk, Germany the second of five sons. He began his apprenticeship in carpentry at age 14, a career and hobby for the rest of his life. He lived and worked in Holland, France and Norway during the war; returning to Holland where he married Johanna Cornelia Langeslag in 1947; immigrating to Lethbridge in 1951. They spent over 49 happy years together and had seven children: Trudy (d. 1998); Peter (Sylvia)(Faye d.1993); Maria (Murray) Meyer; Tom (Regina d. 2011); Jacqueline (Yves) Darche; Michael and Cathy (Kelly) Flaman. Jakob and Johanna (d.1996) had 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. The family also includes step-children, -grandchildren and -great grandchildren. At age 80 Jakob married his childhood sweetheart Gertruda Arts (d.2010). They spent over 10 happy years together, adding 3 stepchildren and a large extension to his family tree. He lived 44 years in the house that Jake built, 5 years at Martha's House and his last year at St. Therese Villa.

The family thanks the staff at both for all their assistance to Jakob and Gertruda. Jakob was a long-standing member of St. Basil's Parish and a charter member of the Norbridge and Coulee Lions Clubs, receiving a Melvin Jones Fellowship for his years of dedicated service. His sense of humor and stories will be very much missed.

Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held at 7:00pm on Friday, January 13, 2012 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 - 4 Street South, Lethbridge, led by Francis and Cybele Noronha.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00pm on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at ST. BASIL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 604 - 13 Street North, Lethbridge with Father Patrick Furtado celebrant.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, 410 Stafford Dr. South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 2L2.