Rev. Petrus Jacob Martens (1887-1969)

One son and five grandsons were pallbearers at the funeral service for Rev. Peter Jacob Martens who died July 10, 1969 in Chilliwack General Hospital.

Rev. P.D. Loewen, Rev. J.A. Toews and Rev. H. Warkentin officiated at the service in Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church. Interment was in Yarrow cemetery. Pall bearers were son: Walter Martens and grandsons: Al Neuman, Allan Martens, Robert Martens, Mel Martens and Herb Langeman.

Rev. Martens was born in September 28, 1887 in Orloff, Sagradowka, South Russia, his parents were Jacob & Katharina (Siemens) Martens. He was baptized September 4, 1906 at Berjosowka, Ufa, Russia.

He was married to Aganetha Dyck in 1909 in Russia, three children were born to them: Agnes 1910, Jacob 1911 and Herbert 1913. Aganetha passed away in 1918. Petrus married Anna Thiessen in 1919 and Erna, Katie, John, Magda and Walter were born to them. Petrus was a Minister. He was a teacher at "Die Armenschule" (School for the Poor) in Ufa, Siberia, Russia.

Petrus and Anna and the children immigrated to Canada in 1926, entering at Quebec and then settling first at Steinbach, Manitoba before moving west to Yarrow, BC, settling on a small farm on Eckert Rd. Yarrow MB Church ordained him as a minister. He joined other Mennonite families working as a checker in the Hop yards late summer. He enjoyed teaching German School on Saturdays in the winter months at the Yarrow MB Church. He was loved by the children who were in his classes. He rewarded us for learning our lessons with small pictures that had a Bible verse printed on it.

Anna passed away March 15, 1948. He married for the third time to Katherine (Tina) Goossen on 29 Jan 1949.

Petrus Martens had lived in the Yarrow for 39 years. He is survived by his wife Katherine, 4347 Cypress Street, Yarrow; three sons: Jacob, Abbotsford; Walter and John, Richmond; three daughters: Mrs. E. Erna Neumann, Vancouver; Mrs. William (Katherine) Corney, Vancouver; Mrs. A. (Magda) Born, Surrey; 25 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by one son Herb and one daughter: Mrs. C. Langeman.