Edmund Rudolf Martens was born on November 30, 1928, in Buhl, Idaho to Rudolf and Henrietta (Becher) Martens and passed away on October 27, 2022, in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 93 years.

Edmund grew up on the Clover Tract in Buhl, Idaho where he attended Clover Lutheran School and Buhl High School and later graduated from Concordia Academy, Portland, Oregon. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Concordia College, Seward in 1949. Edmund began teaching and later became the principal at Immanuel Lutheran School in Columbus, Nebraska from 1949-1951. He moved to Orange, California in 1951, where he taught fifth grade and served as the Director of Music at St. John's Lutheran Church until 1966. It was there that he met and later married Ruth Marie Schnackenberg on August 5, 1956, at St. John's Lutheran Church. Edmund received his Master's Degree from USC in 1961. He accepted a call to Concordia College, Seward, where he taught music theory, organ, voice, conducting and choral music. He was appointed as the director of the A Cappella choir for 21 years. He took hundreds of these students ("Pelicans") on eight tours of Europe and many stateside tours, making lifetime friends along the way. He also composed and published music for bell choirs and Orff arrangements for children.

After 49 years of ministry, Edmund spent his retirement teaching English as a second language, often enhancing the curriculum with the hymnal, catechism, and church services  for his students so they could hear The Word while learning words.  He baked brötchen (little bread) every Saturday for neighbors, firefighters, friends, and family. He lived at Fallbrook Assisted Living the last three years and was grateful for the loving care he received.

Edmund was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth; grandson, Ian Edmund Koehler; two brothers, Donald (Martha) Martens, Waldo (Ruth) Martens; sister, Katherine Martens.

Survivors include his four daughters, Allegra (Clark) Koehler of Seward, Melanie Martens of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Renee (Rick) Nolte of Nehawka, and Ronda (Rodney) Wescott of Lincoln; son, Sean (Brenda) Martens of Apple Valley, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Dorothy Schnackenberg of Carpinteria, California; ten grandchildren: Gavin (Michaela) Koehler of Gretna, Alexander (Samantha) Koehler of Lincoln, Nathan Nolte of Omaha, Justin (Morgan) Nolte of Plattsmouth, Rachel Wescott of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rebecca (Nathanael) Haugen of Knoxville, Tennessee, Devin (Megan) Martens of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Zachary (Sarah) Martens of Mankato, Minnesota, Madeline Martens of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Luke Martens of Winona, Minnesota; six great-grandchildren (Wyatt, Dawson, Ada, Leah, Henry and Nora); many nieces and nephews; and the Pelicans who still call him "Dad".

In Dad's words, "And so, I commend you to look to the future with eyes of faith and hope, knowing that the Holy Spirit will be your guide and your comfort at all times."