Robert Eugene "Bob" Martinek, 89, passed away in Las Cruces, NM Friday night July 13, 2018 at La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice having resided there a short time.
Bob was born August 10, 1928 in Delia, KS to Agnes and William Martinek. He grew up with a slightly older brother Bill and younger brother Orville and sister Louise on their family farm. He and Bill were inseparable growing up, so much so that when Bill entered first grade Bob had to go too, thereby being in the same class throughout their school years.
He married Nancy Frey on April 16, 1950 in Topeka, KS while both worked for the Santa Fe railroad in Topeka, Bob in the railyard and then the office.
He graduated from Silver Lake High School in Silver Lake, KS in 1945 where he was known for his athletic ability and many pranks pulled with friends. He attended Washburn University in Topeka for 1 1/2 years on a football scholarship, finishing his education at Kansas University in Lawrence, KS and earning a BSEE with a minor in Math. He enrolled at Kansas University on the GI bill after enlisting in the Air Force in 1951 and serving for 4 years attached to the Special Weapons Project. His service exposed him to the field of electronics which eventually became his life's work. After graduating from Kansas University in 1958 he and his young family moved back to Albuquerque, NM, having been stationed there in the service. He first worked for Sandia Corporation remaining there 3 years before joining Neely Enterprises in 1961, which eventually became a sales division of Hewlett Packard. During his tenure with Neely and Hewlett Packard he was named Salesman of the Month in 1965, promoted to Field Engineer in 1968 and moved from Albuquerque to Thousand Oaks, CA in early 1969, operating out of the North Hollywood office, then on to the Las Cruces office as manager in August 1969, retiring in 1986.
He was a big sports fan, especially baseball - he & Nancy honeymooned in Chicago and attended a Cubs game - and enjoyed football and college basketball too. He tried out for a semi-pro baseball team prior to their marriage but the team disbanded due to infighting among the managers, leaving the team members stranded in Oklahoma City left to find their own way home. He and Nancy were avid bowlers for over 50 years. In Las Cruces he bowled in multiple leagues, served as league secretary many years, and bowled with the Chiles de Las Cruces and Las Cruces International Club. He and Nancy enjoyed traveling for bowling tournaments around the country and state, and he qualified for and bowled in many Senior National tournaments in the 75+ age group and the New Mexico Senior Olympics. They made many lifelong, awesome friends through bowling. Bob and Nancy traveled extensively in addition to that for bowling, visiting Spain and Morocco, multiple states, a 5 week self guided tour through 8 countries in Europe in 1984, Germany multiple times, England & Scotland, Sweden, Norway & Denmark, and cruised Alaska, the Caribbean & the Rhine River. They also enjoyed playing the slots at various casinos in New Mexico and Nevada. In earlier years he loved to fish with his brothers when visiting in Kansas and later with good friends from Las Cruces. At home Bob could be found taking meticulous care of their beautiful yard, conquering the daily crossword puzzle, sudoku and cryptoquip, watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and avidly reading spy and intrigue novels, favorite authors being Clive Clussler, David Baldacci, Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum.
Bob is survived by his wife of 68 years Nancy of Las Cruces, NM, daughter Mona Martinek of W Lafayette, IN, son Jay Martinek (Verena) of Schwalbach, Germany, grandchildren Sean, Samantha, and Macy Martinek of Schwalbach, Germany and great granddaughter Felicitas Luna also of Germany, brother Orville Martinek (Janet) of Silver Lake, KS, sister Louise Redmon of Silver Lake, KS, sister-in-law Donna Neuner of Topeka, KS, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Bob was predeceased by father William (1981), brother Bill (1989) and mother Agnes (1994).
Visitation will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm, Thursday, July 19, 2018 at Getz Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held at 2 pm, Friday, July 20, 2018 at Getz Funeral Home in Las Cruces, NM.
Visitation will be held from 10 am to 11 am, Monday July 23, 2018 at Kevin Brennan Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka, KS 66614. Burial will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery in Topeka, KS. Arrangements by Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, Topeka, KS.
Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, corner of Solano and Bowman Ave. To sign our local online guestbook, please log onto www.GetzCares.com
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