Donald E. Martin

Donald E. Martin, age 85, died peacefully on February 5, 2022, in Tempe, Arizona. Don was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to O’Linda Buxbaum and Henry Martin, and learned the value of hard work at a young age, while working in the sugar beet fields with his family, as a newspaper carrier, and working the night shift in the Scottsbluff Star Herald while in high school. As a young man, he was lucky enough to have mentors who encouraged him to go to college and assisted him in obtaining a Regent’s Scholarship at the University of Nebraska; to them, he was forever grateful. After college, Don joined the US Navy, and ultimately was promoted to the rank of Commander. Upon leaving active duty, Don moved to Denver, where he met his wife Ellyn and began his career in the insurance industry. Don worked for INA/CIGNA for 30 years before retiring at the age of 57; he spent his retirement years split between Seattle and Sun Lakes engaged in competitive gardening with his neighbors, golfing, fishing, volunteering, driving too fast, fixing lawn mowers, and enjoying his family and friends. Don is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ellyn (Arendsen); his children Shauna (Hans) Ehlert, Cheryl (Brian) Adams, and Tom (Carmen) Martin; seven grandchildren, Jana, Elena, Annick, Truett, Viviana, Veronica and Tippen; and his two younger sisters, Barbara (Dennis) Guilford, and Ilene (John) O’Meara. The memorial service will be held on April 4, 2022, at 1045am at Sun Lakes United Methodist in Sun Lakes, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Hospice of the Valley or Neighbors Who Care (Sun Lakes, AZ).