Born ‎ Jan 26, 1929 at Williamsburg, Iowa Co., IA, died ‎ Jul 11, 1995 at Marengo, Iowa Co., IA‎, 66 years, buried ‎ Jul 13, 1995 at First Lutheran Cemetery, Hilton Twp., Iowa Co., IA
REFN: 195
Harold Frederick Martinson was born to Frank & Irene Schwarting
Martinson on January 26, 1929, in Williamsburg, Iowa. He was baptized
and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Hilton Twp., Iowa County. He
graduated from Hilton Consolidated High School in Conroy in 1946 and
married Lorraine Shedenhelm on October 15, 1948 in Norway, Iowa. Early
in their marriage, Harold & Lorraine made their home on her parents farm
in Hilton Twp., later moving to Marengo. In the early years of his
career he was employed at Amana Refrigeration and Collins Radio in Cedar
Rapids. He was owner and manager of a TV sales & service business in
Marengo, Blairstown, and Cedar Rapids for many years. He also was host
at Colony Village Restaurant and managed the Colony Village Self Serve
gas station on Interstate 80 . After 1983, he owned and operated Marengo
Repair Service at the corner of Hwy 6 & V66 in Marengo.
Survivors include his father, Frank, of Marengo; a son, Harold Jr.,
and companion, Ella Keiser, of Marengo; four daughters: Ava Simmons and
husband, Robert Jr., of Marengo; twins, Sharen Martinson, of Malibu,
California, and Karen Martinson, of Marengo; a daughter, Donna Martinson,
of Marengo; two sister: Mary Ellen Sandersfeld and Gloria Burgy, both of
Amana; a brother, Edwin Martinson, of Center Point; and a very special
friend, Mary Betz, of Marengo.
Also surviving are his former wife, Lorraine Martinson Smith of
Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas; and five grandchildren, Cory and Cody Simmons,
and Kendra, Ivy and Emily Martinson. He was preceded in death by his
mother, Irene, and two grandsons, Todd and Jeffrey Simmons.
Harold was a man of many talents and interests. He was an avid
collector, saving all sorts of gadgets no one else would consider
useful. He was an inventor. There was no problem he would not tackle
and he always came up with a solution in his own uniquely creative way.
His knowledge of machinery was amazing and he took great pride in these
skills and in his vast collection of tools. He approached each task with
thoroughness and care, no matter now small the job.
He loved to read and he loved to listen to fine music which he found
relaxing and therapeutic. There was a fondness in his heart for all
animals, and over the years he befriended many a homeless stray or hurt
animal and gave it a home or nursed it back to health.
His real passions, however, were his love of nature and his love of
flying. Harold loved the outdoors and spent countless hours in the
country on the farm where he grew up and where he resided the last few
years with his father. Equally strong was his passion for flying. He
loved the feeling of soaring through the sky in an airplane and his dream
was to one day build his own Ultra-Lite and fly it.
His first love was always his family. He was devoted to his
father. He loved his children and gave of himself unceasingly, and his
grandchildren were especially dear to his heart.
Harold was a lover of life. This was obvious to everyone who knew
him. His customary greeting was "Smile when you think those thoughts!"
More often than not, he had a twinkle in his eye as he eagerly shared the
latest discovery in natural healing or hypnotherapy with any willing
listener. He wasn't afraid to be different - and what he believed, he
believed strongly.
With this same fervor, he devoted himself to his family and friends,
offering a helping hand without being asked, and always supporting the
cause of the underdog - the sick, the poor or the disadvantaged. He
chose to see in his fellow human beings not their shortcomings, but
instead their potential. To this end, he devoted endless hours to
self-education and study learning to help others help themselves. He
received his certification in hypnotherapy from the International
Association of Counselors and Therapists and perfected these techniques