Martin J. Pender

Martin J. “Marty” Pender, 59, of Newton, died Saturday, March 17, 2018, at his home.

A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 30 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 1 p.m. until the time of service. In addition, a benefit and celebration of life will be from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 31 at the Newton VFW Post 1655. Memorials to the South Skunk Blues Society may be left at the funeral home the day of the service.

Marty, the son of Clyde G. “Chick” and Francine (Van Arkel) Pender, was born Sept. 7, 1958, in Newton. He grew up in rural Prairie City and attended Prairie City Schools. After a short time living and going to school in Monroe, he moved back to Newton. Marty worked for many years as a plumber at Brooker Plumbing and Heating and had most recently been an infusion specialist at TPI.

Marty was united in marriage with Gina Marcellus July 26, 2014, in Newton. He was a member of the South Skunk Blues Society and ABATE. Marty loved both music and motorcycles. He enjoyed hanging out with friends in his “man cave” playing music and also was known to give each of his bikes names and personalities so he could have good “conversations” with them. Marty proudly built a 1971 Harley Davidson Sportster for his son and had entered and won first place in a motorcycle competition in Marshalltown. More recently he had a desire to go for a ride in a “hot car” and had enjoyed restoring a ’67 Camaro. Marty was also quick-witted and liked engaging in a good argument.

Those left to celebrate Marty’s life are his wife, Gina, of Newton; children, Erin Pender of Kansas City, Mo., Justin (Megan) Anderson of Newton, Kasie (Kenny) Lamb of Newton, and Eric Pender of Newton; step-children, Travis (Kasey) Peterson of Casey, Danielle (Breighton) Robison-Engeman of Ames, and William (Marie) Channell of Kellogg; nine grandchildren, Dalton, Brysen, Gabriel, Blake, Jace, Kyia, Harmony, Alisia and Alexis; his mom, Fran Ingersoll of Bondurant; siblings, Melanie (Brock) Carr of Jefferson City, Mo., Mike Pender of Baxter and Jon Pender of Burlington; and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Clyde “Chick” Pender.