Harry Martin

Harry Martin passed away peacefully on June 23, at the age of 79.

Harry was preceded in death by parents Gladys (Meinen) (1999) and Douglas (1957) Martin and father-in-law Antonio Padilla.  He is survived by his wife of 58 years Cecilia (Padilla) Martin, brother Don J Martin (Carolyn) - MI, sister Leslie (Goldstein) Pincher - Fairmont MN, children Brook Martin - St. Paul, MN, Carmen Martin (Greg Nesseth) - Forest Lake MN, grandchildren Calder and Corina Erick, Mitchell and Brandon Nesseth and foster daughter Patricia Sabio.

He will be remembered fondly by his mother-in-law Deloris Padilla, sisters and brother-in-laws Connie (Gary) Deitschman - Rapid City SD, Charles (Kay) Padilla - Rochester MN,  Curtis Padilla - Billings MT, Cynthia Padilla - Maple Grove MN, Carey Padilla - Duluth MN, Joan Friedlund - St. Paul MN, nephews Darek Martin (Melissa)- Eagan MN, Dale (Jyothi) Martin - Chicago IL, special friends David & Marleen Aakre, Bill & Mary Andler, Curt & Pat Hadlund and his Spring Valley, MN “Class of 61”.

Harry was born in Mason City, Iowa. He was raised by an adoptive family on a small family farm near Spring Valley, MN.  He graduated from high school in 1961 from Spring Valley, MN. He married Cecilia Padilla of Rochester, MN in 1964 while attending Rochester Community College and working for Ken McGee Engineering.  They moved to the Twin Cities where he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  It was here they made many of their lifelong friends.  They had homes in St. Paul and Oakdale before moving to Lakeland, MN on the St. Croix River where they lived for the next 33 years.  Harry loved the river and all things about it, from cutting buckthorn and replacing it with highbush cranberries that drew all kinds of birds and wildlife to boating and relaxing on the beach.

Harry was employed at 3M for thirty-two years in various engineering capacities such as printing products, reflective traffic control and corporate research printing products, abrasives, and human resource skills.  He also enjoyed his involvement as an engineering student recruiter for the company at various colleges including Tuskegee University, from which he was given an Honorary Masters degree.  As a retiree he spent many hours organizing activities for fellow retired 3M engineering managers.

Harry had a strong work ethic and joined UFE, a plastics company in Stillwater, MN after retirement where he worked another fifteen years as a Facilities Engineering Manager.  This opportunity allowed him to travel to Mexico on a regular basis.  He was able to learn Spanish well enough to translate documents for the company while setting up new plants in Monterey, Mexico and El Paso, TX.

As a foster family and  host to foreign exchange students he and the family enjoyed learning about other lifestyles.  Followed by international travel to visit students and their families in their home countries.  On the home front he spent many hours coaching the kids on their soccer and softball teams.  He was a very busy father.  Vacations were spent camping across the United States.

Over the years volunteer opportunities included membership on the city and county park boards and the United Way of St. Croix Valley.  He took an active part in his local precinct caucuses and at Peoples Congregational church where he was able to help acquire land which is used today for community activities.  Leisure time activities included turkey hunting, camping, boating, reading and walking the Dalmatian.  He also enjoyed photography, reading, and birdwatching. But most of all he enjoyed visiting with old friends and making new ones and his family.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Stillwater, MN on Wednesday July 13, 2022. A light lunch will follow the service.  The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be sent to your local Audubon Society or a Ukrainian relief effort.