Robert "B J" Martin

Robert “BJ” Martin, 50, of Klemme, IA, passed away at his home on Sunday, January 26, 2025 from heart issues.

Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. on Monday, February 3, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 810 State St, Garner, IA 50438, with Reverend Scott Kozisek officiating. Lunch will follow. There will not be a graveside service, since BJ chose cremation. He will later be buried with his best friend and loving wife, Vallie. 

Visitation will be held from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St NE, Mason City, IA 50401, and from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 810 State St, Garner, IA 50438.

Robert “BJ” Bruce Martin was born on October 21, 1974 in Osage, IA to Robert and Lorraine (Michalek) Martin. He graduated from North Central High School, Manly, IA with the Class of 1993. BJ attended NIACC. His superior mechanical ability to fix anything, committed work ethic, and determination to finish any job he started, led to a 25-year career with Kraft Foods. He also shared his gifts with Church and Dwight Co., Inc. and Stellar Industries. His co-workers were like a family to him. After a partial leg amputation, BJ was no longer able to work at Stellar Industries. This allowed him to work on challenging home and acreage tasks. His extended family also kept his problem-solving mind busy with various projects. 

BJ married Vallie Stromer on November 22, 1997 in Garner, IA. They have one daughter, Abby. They lived in Nora Springs and Northwood, before moving to the Stromer family farm near Klemme, IA. Both being farm kids, they were excited to make it their forever home. It also tied in with BJ’s passion for the outdoors, farm life, and projects. 

Like his dad, BJ had an immense love of tools and refused to part with any of them. Any piece of equipment was fair game for him to restore or modify to his liking. He also created many tools from scratch. BJ was always ready with the proper pocketknife or flashlight, which earned him the name “Papa Flashlight” from his grandson. He cherished every moment with his grandsons, great-nephews, and great-nieces. BJ was shy, but would engage in detailed conversation with those who shared his passions. He was forgiving, caring, patient, and so eager to help, which made him the perfect person to teach others how to get a job done. His words of advice to his mom were, “Troubleshoot, Mom, troubleshoot.” BJ also had a great sense of humor, which could be seen on the t-shirts he wore. 

Even though it required great effort, BJ worked diligently to accept his pain and prosthesis and heal his body and mind. Recurring infections caused four amputations, which ended with a partial leg amputation. During this entire time, he was committed to pursue his beloved mechanical passions and help others. 

Those left to cherish BJ’s memory are his wife Vallie Martin of 27 years; daughter Abigail; grandchildren River, Rowan and a new baby boy; mother Lorraine Martin; siblings Theresa (Travis) Glidden and Kristine (Marc) Whyle; mother-in-law Juanita Stromer; sisters-in-law Andrea (Dwayne) Robinson and Jackie (Eric) McGrail; aunts and uncles Gerry (Jim) Christiansen, Elsie Dutcher, Michael (Charlotte) Michalek, Tony (Jan) Michalek, John (Sharon) Cordes, Millie Stromer, Val (Mildred) Stromer and Jeanne Stromer; nieces and nephews LaRiessah Thompson, DreStan (Becky) Thompson, Autumn (Nick) Gnerer, Tristin (Lane) Peterson, Ty (Kealey) Glidden, Blazek (Mackenzie) Whyle, Aspen (Gabriela) Whyle, Nakia Stromer and Katherine McGrail; great nieces and nephews RJ, Amari, Decker, Croix, Blakely, Maverick, Lydia, Madison and Maclyn; his dogs Rocky, Toby and Remington; his beloved 1997 Ford F250 Power Stroke, and many extended family and friends. BJ would want you to know that this isn’t good-bye; it’s see you later.

BJ was preceded in death by his father Robert Martin; father-in-law Velere Stromer; nephew Cody Glidden; grandparents Lloyd and Cleora Martin, Frank and JessieMaye Michalek; cousin Todd Michalek, and uncles-in-law Byron Stromer and Lynden Stromer. 

Memorials may be directed to Vallie Martin, 1860 Highway 69, Klemme, IA 50449.

Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St NE, Mason City, IA 50401. 641-423-2372. ColonialChapels.com