Martin Werner Barlau

Martin Werner Barlau was born on September 24, 1935, at McGrath, MN, the eldest of nine children of Rev. Werner C. Barlau and his wife, Margaret (Jeske).  Martin passed away on May 19, 2025, at the age of 89.

Martin received an Associate in Arts degree from Concordia College St. Paul.  He then graduated from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE, in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.  He began teaching grades 5-6 and was director of music at Christ Lutheran School in Norfolk, NE.

In August 1958, Martin married Judith Koenn, a fellow Concordia student.  They were blessed with three children - Sandra, John, and James - and eventually with eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. 

In April 1960, Martin began serving as the principal at Christ Lutheran School in Norfolk, NE.  He went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Elementary Curriculum from Wayne State College in Wayne, NE in 1967.  Shortly thereafter, he accepted a call as principal and teacher at Bethlehem Lutheran School in Lakewood, CO.  On June 5, 1981, Judith was tragically lost to the family.

In 1982, Martin was elected to the Board of Directors of the Colorado District of the LCMS, and served on the Missions Commission of the Board, while continuing as the principal at Bethlehem Lutheran School.  Then in 1987, Martin was called to serve as the Executive Secretary for Missions for the Rocky Mountain District. 

On September 17, 1988, Martin was blessed with a new life partner in Jean Marie (Von Haden/King), whose son, Brian King, also became part of the family. 

From 1996-2013, he served on the Open Arms Task Force for the LCMS.  In July 2005, while continuing as the part-time Executive Director of the Open Arms Institute, Martin served for one year as the interim principal of Immanuel Lutheran School in Brandon, Florida. 

In May of 2010, Martin was granted an honorary Doctor of Letters Degree by Concordia University–NE, his alma mater.

Martin is survived by daughter Sandra (husband Joe Mullins); son John (wife Linda, and their children Ryan with wife Ana and sons Liam and Greyson, and Ashly with husband Dan and son Elian);son James, (wife Ronna, and children Daniel, Jesse and son Leo, Joshua, and step-children Crystal, Johnny and Zach); siblings Beata (Raedeke), Agatha (Baden), Stephen, Elvira (McCalla), Ethel (Wolff), Jesse, and Deborah (Hammond).

A memorial service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Collins, CO on June 11, 2025 at 10am with Rev. Tim Runtsch officiating.  The burial will be at Mt Olivet Cemetery in Wheatridge later in the day with Rev. Jim Tuell officiating.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Redeemer's Senior Adult Ministries or to the General Fund of Redeemer.