Melburn Michael "Mike" Martin, also lovingly known as "Pepa" or "Peeps", age 82, passed away on October 27, 2018, at Heritage Care Center of Fairbury, after a short illness.
He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on October 2, 1936, to Elmer and Leta Martin. He was the youngest of five children born in Nebraska, and was pleased to discover he had siblings and their families in Wyoming, whom he was thrilled to meet several years ago.
Mike graduated from College View High School in 1954.
He married Maxine (Rogers) on October 5, 1958, in Fairbury, NE, and two sons, Michael and Mitchel, were born to this union. He was very proud of his sons.
Mike owned and operated Anything Electric and Aqua Plumbing. An inspector of construction in hospitals and nursing homes, he traveled to many western states. Even though he kept a busy schedule, he also enjoyed coaching Little League baseball. In their later years, he and his wife also ran a popular restaurant, the Sober Cowboy, in Endicott, NE. He was a master at everything he did, proud of his work, and his work was always done well.
Mike loved all of his family and friends and they were dear to him. He felt a very close bond with Jerry Gene, Gwen, and Chloe. He also felt a very close bond with Joe Cossel, his wife, Jo, and their precious little girl, Joeselle, who adoringly called him "Pepo". Those he counted among his special friends were Doug Zabokrtsky, Bruce Stanton, Orville Reinke, Delven Schipper, Dave Kettlehut, Marvin Stelling, Vic Flaming, Glen Rogers, Don Moser, Larry Rogers, and Roy McCord, Dan Duff and Marvin Hoy. His faithful canine friend, Sassy, was his constant companion for the last 17 years of his life.
A member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Mike loved the Lord and believed in Him. He held the blessed promise in his heart of the soon coming of the Lord, knowing the dead in Christ will rise first, at the second coming.
Mike leaves to cherish his loving memory his wife, Maxine; son, Mitchel, his wife, Marla, and their four children, Mason Melburn, Mattson, Michaela, and Marcus, and great-grandson, Michael Martin Lee, all of Crete, NE; grandchildren, Blake, Brett, and Bailey Martin, Barry Tompkins, and great-granddaughter, Riley, all of Texas; his Wyoming siblings, and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law; siblings Bonnie, Jerry, JoAnne, and Darlene; and son, Michael Monroe "Roe".
A memorial service will be held at two o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at the Fairbury Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Fairbury, NE. Memorials will go to Adventist Development & Relief Agency (A.D.R.A.) Following the service, family and friends are welcome to a gathering with refreshments at the church. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.