Stan Martin, 63

Stanley Wayne Martin, 63, died of a heart attack on Aug. 10, 2021, at his home near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Stan was born Sept. 11, 1957, in Elkhart, Ind., to Dale and Sylvia (Schrock) Martin. Stan graduated from Bethany Christian High School in Goshen, Ind., in 1975. He received his B.A. from Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind., in 1981 and completed his Master of Divinity at Grace Theological Seminary, also in Winona Lake, in 1990.

Stan married Julie Rae Swanson on July 30, 1983, in Warsaw, Ind., and they had eight children before their divorce in 2019. They faithfully served the church together during their 36-year marriage.

Stan worked as a pastor in churches in Indiana, Michigan, California, and Idaho for 30 years. For the past four years, he worked as a Maintenance Supervisor at the United States-Canadian border.

Stan’s life was characterized by service to others and he was always eager to lend a hand. He personally showed love to people by working quietly and sacrificially without the need for public recognition. In addition to his many years of church ministry, he also served as a chaplain with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office in San Jose, Calif., and also with the Boundary County Jail in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Stan volunteered as a longtime Cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack 114 and helped with campouts for Boy Scout Troop 114 along with his sons. He could frequently be seen cutting and delivering firewood to local families in need.

Stan was an avid lover of music, history, theology, and the outdoors. His favorite hobbies included fishing, a love he developed after many hours fishing with his own father, hunting, cutting firewood, gardening, shooting guns, and going for long drives in the mountains. He never loved life in the big city so was thrilled to settle in north Idaho. During his lifetime, he visited most of the contiguous United States, spent time working on his uncle and aunt’s dairy farm on Manitoulin Island in Canada, and took a study trip to Germany with his parents and brothers.

Throughout his years as a pastor, he was continuously encouraged by his annual visits to the Shepherds’ Conference at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif. He was a gifted musician who played the guitar and found great joy singing hymns and worship songs with his children. An incredibly hard worker, Stan taught his children to not give up on a job until it was done fully and done well. He instilled in them a love of learning, music, the outdoors, and knowledge of the Bible.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dale (d. 2003) and Sylvia (d. 2013) Martin and brothers: L. Brian Martin (d. 1998) and Dennis Martin (d. 2015). He is survived by Julie Martin of Sandpoint, Idaho, and children: Erik Martin of Grand Rapids, Mich., Carissa (Mathew) Wronski of Prattville, Ala., Caroline (Daniel) Peters of Garner, N.C., Emilie (Mark) Dubei of Santa Clarita, Calif., Anna Martin of Santa Clarita, Andrew Martin (currently serving in the U.S. Air Force), Lydia Martin of Sandpoint, and Josiah Martin of Sandpoint; grandchildren: Jewell Martin, Creed Martin, Levi Wronski, and Jude Wronski; as well as his brother Gary Martin and wife Patricia (Mierau) Martin of Goshen, Ind., sisters-in-law: Sue (Firestone) Martin of Warsaw, Ind., and Carol Ann (Nearpass) Martin of Topsham, Maine, and numerous nieces and nephews.

During this sorrowful time, Stan’s family puts their faith in Jesus and the promise that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). To quote one of his favorite songs, “Lord, let your grace, grace from your hand, come over us. That we may be saved, that we may have life, to find our way in the darkest night. Let your grace come over us.”

A graveside service at Moravia Cemetery, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, is planned for 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. All are welcome to attend the graveside service, followed by a time of fellowship and remembrance at the Boundary County Fairgrounds Memorial Hall.