Elmo Martin

Elmo Martin, age 86, of Cottage Grove, passed away at the Woodbury Senior Care Center on Monday, March 6, 2023. 

Elmo was born on August 23, 1936 in Easton, MN to Francis and Nellie (Pettit) Martin.  Elmo left school at the age of 16 to work for his dad.  At the age of 18, he joined the Army serving during the Cold War in Germany from 1955 – 1957.  He met the love of his life, Gloria, at the Hastings Roller Rink in 1958 and married her in 1959.  They had four lovely children together while he received his GED and worked as a Millwright at the Hastings Peavey Flour Mill for 33 years before retiring.  He lost his first wife to cancer in 1979. 

Elmo met his second wife, Marilyn who has four children, at the Parents Without Partners group in Cottage Grove in 1979 and married in 1980.  He enjoyed traveling around the US and Germany, deer hunting in Onamia, and wintering in Mission, TX.  His hobbies were attending flea markets, farmer’s markets, gardening, watching children, dancing, and dogs. 

Elmo is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughters – Patricia (Kearn) Kelley and Barbara (James) Johnson; four stepchildren – Carolyn Sampson, Patricia (Randy) Westcott, Thomas (Renee) Farmer, Christopher (Angie) Farmer; 19 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren (with three more on the way); siblings – Nicholis (Judy) Martin, Cecil (Lin) Martin, Bonita (Randy) Rose, and William (Linda) Martin; and many nieces and nephews.  Elmo is preceded in death by his parents Francis and Nellie Martin, first wife Gloria, daughter Terri, grandson Kevin, son David, brothers – Francis (Kathy) Martin; Alvin (Dorothy) Martin; Edward (Jeanne) Martin; and sisters – Helen (Roland) Freeman and Mary (Wilfred) Reinke. 

Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM, Thursday, March 16, 2023 at the Church of St. Rita, 8694 80^th St. S., Cottage Grove, MN 55016. Burial will follow at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Cemetery, Hastings, MN.

Memorials preferred to the charity of your choice. 

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION: For those who would like to participate in Elmo's service via livestream, you can watch the service on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 11:00 AM (CT). It can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of this page, and "CLICK PLAY" to begin. Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service. If you are having troubles with the Livestream, the service will be available to watch later in the day.