David Leon Martin

David Leon Martin passed away peacefully on Monday, May 13, 2024, at Good Shepherd, Inc. in Mason City. Visitation for David will be held Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 5-7pm at Woodley Funeral Home in Thornton with memorial services Monday, May 20, 2024, at 10:30am at the United Methodist Church in Thornton. Woodley Funeral Home and Crematory of Thornton is caring for David and his family. David was born on September 19, 1941, to Robert W. and Ethel Martin of Ames, Iowa. He graduated from Ames High School in 1960 where he was active in track and field, medaling in the high jump at the State Track Meet. After high school he served in the Army for two years and was honorably discharged. He met and married Kathryn Wells; two children were born, Robb and Shannon. They later divorced. David enjoyed working a full 20 years for the Iowa DOT and during that time he found his way to Pronto in Thornton, Iowa, where he met and fell in love with Kay Muhlenbruch. The two were married on April 22, 2000, and they resided in Ames until David retired from the Iowa DOT. They moved to ‘God’s Country’ (Thornton, Iowa) in 2004 so they could be closer to family and to golf! After the move, David worked for NIACOG driving bus for numerous special ‘friends’. He also enjoyed countless rounds on the golf course with his friends, family, and especially his wife and grandsons. Before his move to Good Shepherd, his DARN grandsons shared ‘one last shot’, along with many laughs and a few tears, as well as hearing Gramp’s favorite stories about each one of them. David and Kay spent many hours between the golf course, cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, day trips around the state, and more so recently, enjoying the birds and wildlife on their back deck. They were the true definition of unconditional love. David is survived by his wife Kay Martin, daughter Michele (Matt) Smuck, son Robert T. Martin, daughter Shannon (Louie) Rivero, grandsons Derek (Morgan) Smuck, Andrew Smuck, Ryan (Madisyn Heller) Smuck and Noah (Mikayla Paul) Smuck, great-grandsons Cooper and Cohen Smuck, sister-in-law Nancy Payton (Tom Ward), brother-in-law Brian (Pam) Muhlenbruch, sister Karen Garrison, niece Kelly Simmons and nephew Steven Garrison, brother Ernest Martin, along with several nieces and nephews who he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Dr. Thomas F. Martin, Richard Martin, Donald Martin, mother-in-law Adeline Muhlenbruch, brother-in-law Ronald Payton, and niece Laura Payton.

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David Leon Martin

September 19, 1941 - May 13, 2024