Susan (Sue) Martens (nee Giesbrecht)
March 24,1934 - November 7, 2024
On the evening of November 7, 2024 Susan Martens, in her 90th year peacefully joined her dearly missed husband, John, her son Doug as well as her parents Peter and Mary Giesbrecht and her brother Johnny Giesbrecht.
Sue is lovingly remembered by her daughter Sharon Martens (Robert Hlady) from Calgary, her son Ken Martens (Wendy) from Brandon and her daughter-in-law Carol Martens from Winnipeg. She is also survived by her granddaughters Miranda Hickman (Dustin) of Brandon and Michele Poirier of Winnipeg and also 2 grandsons, Chris Martens (Lala) of Toronto and Matthew Martens (Meaghan) of Edmonton and 3 great grandchildren, Ethan & Caden Poirier and Deaken Hickman. She is also survived by her sister Margaret Lamblez from Crystal City and her brothers Henry Giesbrecht (Cheryl) from Morden and Jim Giesbrecht (Jackie) from Winkler, as well as many nieces and nephews who have graciously provided kindness and support over the years.
Sue and John were married on October 11th, 1952. They had many wonderful experiences together over their 68 years of marriage, living first in Morden where Sue worked as a telephone operator. Their son, Doug, was born in Morden before they moved to Fertile, Saskatchewan to try farming and raise their family. Sharon joined the family while they lived in Fertile. In 1958 they returned to Morden where Sue worked at home and as a part time telephone operator while John worked as a plumber and completed his journeyman’s ticket in plumbing and gas fitting. Ken joined the family in Morden, completing their family of 5. In 1964 they settled in Baldur, Manitoba until 1993 when they retired “home” to Morden. Sue assisted John in his newly established Martens Plumbing and Heating business. She again worked part time as a telephone operator and later she worked in the Baldur Hospital in the laundry and, after taking courses, became a Health Care Aide.
Sue and John believed their marriage and life together was built on the Grace and Goodness of God. Sue, John and Doug were baptized at Morden MB Church in 1969.
They were able to enjoy the gift of travel on various family vacations, to go on an Alaskan cruise and they spent several winters in Texas to escape Manitoba winters. There were also many visits to see Sharon in Calgary, which of course included trips to the mountains, as well as a special trip to the Maritimes with Doug and Carol. There were many memories made on that Maritime road trip but highlights for Sue were seeing an Anne of Green Gables live theatre presentation and visiting the Anne of Green Gables house.
Entertaining family and friends brought both Sue and John much joy and pleasure. Sue’s cinnamon rolls were a favorite request of the grandchildren. A Sunday chicken dinner or a Saturday meal of chicken noodle soup or farmers sausage with noodles or vareniki were always highlights.
Sue discovered and developed her talent and love of sewing, needlework and crafts over her lifetime. She sewed Sharon’s clothes and dresses for herself in her early years. She learned to knit, crochet and embroider. In Baldur Sue learned the art of hardanger from her gifted and talented Icelandic neighbor. She created needlepoint and petit point pieces to decorate the walls and furniture of their home. She tried her hand at ceramics and china painting and later took up quilting with a passion. Every child, grandchild and great grandchild was gifted with one of her quilt creations and a number of quilted pieces are displayed in her own home for her enjoyment to this day.
The family would like to thank the many home care workers at Homestead who supported Sue in her ability to remain independent, as well as the many staff at Homestead she met while living there. We are grateful to the medical and palliative care teams at Boundary Trails and to Pastors Gerald Dyck and Konrad Loewen for their spiritual care for Sue and the family. We are very grateful and appreciative for the kindnesses, assistance and support that our family graciously received from family and friends over the years.
In lieu of flowers, family and friends are invited to donate to 500 Stephen Street in Sue’s memory. https://www.500stephen.ca
March 24,1934 - November 7, 2024
On the evening of November 7, 2024 Susan Martens, in her 90th year peacefully joined her dearly missed husband, John, her son Doug as well as her parents Peter and Mary Giesbrecht and her brother Johnny Giesbrecht.
Sue is lovingly remembered by her daughter Sharon Martens (Robert Hlady) from Calgary, her son Ken Martens (Wendy) from Brandon and her daughter-in-law Carol Martens from Winnipeg. She is also survived by her granddaughters Miranda Hickman (Dustin) of Brandon and Michele Poirier of Winnipeg and also 2 grandsons, Chris Martens (Lala) of Toronto and Matthew Martens (Meaghan) of Edmonton and 3 great grandchildren, Ethan & Caden Poirier and Deaken Hickman. She is also survived by her sister Margaret Lamblez from Crystal City and her brothers Henry Giesbrecht (Cheryl) from Morden and Jim Giesbrecht (Jackie) from Winkler, as well as many nieces and nephews who have graciously provided kindness and support over the years.
Sue and John were married on October 11th, 1952. They had many wonderful experiences together over their 68 years of marriage, living first in Morden where Sue worked as a telephone operator. Their son, Doug, was born in Morden before they moved to Fertile, Saskatchewan to try farming and raise their family. Sharon joined the family while they lived in Fertile. In 1958 they returned to Morden where Sue worked at home and as a part time telephone operator while John worked as a plumber and completed his journeyman’s ticket in plumbing and gas fitting. Ken joined the family in Morden, completing their family of 5. In 1964 they settled in Baldur, Manitoba until 1993 when they retired “home” to Morden. Sue assisted John in his newly established Martens Plumbing and Heating business. She again worked part time as a telephone operator and later she worked in the Baldur Hospital in the laundry and, after taking courses, became a Health Care Aide.
Sue and John believed their marriage and life together was built on the Grace and Goodness of God. Sue, John and Doug were baptized at Morden MB Church in 1969.
They were able to enjoy the gift of travel on various family vacations, to go on an Alaskan cruise and they spent several winters in Texas to escape Manitoba winters. There were also many visits to see Sharon in Calgary, which of course included trips to the mountains, as well as a special trip to the Maritimes with Doug and Carol. There were many memories made on that Maritime road trip but highlights for Sue were seeing an Anne of Green Gables live theatre presentation and visiting the Anne of Green Gables house.
Entertaining family and friends brought both Sue and John much joy and pleasure. Sue’s cinnamon rolls were a favorite request of the grandchildren. A Sunday chicken dinner or a Saturday meal of chicken noodle soup or farmers sausage with noodles or vareniki were always highlights.
Sue discovered and developed her talent and love of sewing, needlework and crafts over her lifetime. She sewed Sharon’s clothes and dresses for herself in her early years. She learned to knit, crochet and embroider. In Baldur Sue learned the art of hardanger from her gifted and talented Icelandic neighbor. She created needlepoint and petit point pieces to decorate the walls and furniture of their home. She tried her hand at ceramics and china painting and later took up quilting with a passion. Every child, grandchild and great grandchild was gifted with one of her quilt creations and a number of quilted pieces are displayed in her own home for her enjoyment to this day.
The family would like to thank the many home care workers at Homestead who supported Sue in her ability to remain independent, as well as the many staff at Homestead she met while living there. We are grateful to the medical and palliative care teams at Boundary Trails and to Pastors Gerald Dyck and Konrad Loewen for their spiritual care for Sue and the family. We are very grateful and appreciative for the kindnesses, assistance and support that our family graciously received from family and friends over the years.
In lieu of flowers, family and friends are invited to donate to 500 Stephen Street in Sue’s memory. https://www.500stephen.ca