Leo Dwain Martin

Leo Dwain Martin

Oct 21, 1936 - Aug 19, 2026

Leo Dwain Martin, age 89, passed away on August 19, 2026. Leo was born on October 21, 1936 to his parents Edward F. Martin and Leora Marie (Butts) Martin on a farm near Pisgah, IA.

Leo Martin grew up on that farm west of Pisgah, Iowa. He attended most of his 12 years of education and graduated at Pisgah. He attended country school for 3 years at Hebb School. He joined the Army in November of 1955, attended Radar Repair School in Fort Monmouth, NJ, and then taught repair of guided missiles at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. He married Roberta Kraft in 1957, and they lived in Alabama until January 1960. Leo then took a job with RCA Service Company at Offutt AFB near Bellevue, NE, where he maintained ballistic missile warning system equipment in the SAC underground.

In 1968, he and Roberta purchased a hillside acreage south of Council Bluffs, where they built their dream home. Here they raised 5 children, planted gardens, tended rabbits, chickens, and goats, and landscaped the entire 2-1/2 acres. He enjoyed being an active part of raising his family, instilling integrity and compassion in all of their lives. He and Roberta lived there for over 58 years.

In 1969, he began teaching electronics at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, IA. He received an associate degree in Electronics Technology at IWCC. Following a distinguished 27-year teaching career, Leo retired in May of 1996. After retirement, he traveled throughout the United States and visited some of his sponsored Compassion International children in India, Haiti, and Nicaragua.

He was a member of Southside Christian Church for most of his life, after being baptized into the church in 1969. He held several offices at the church over the years and managed their Food Pantry for about 10 years. He taught Sunday School for most of those years to youth and adults. He also taught at Christian Summer Camp for two years.

He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 63 years, Roberta Darlene (Kraft) Martin. Also preceded in death by brothers, Dale Martin (infant), William Martin, and Earl Martin; and daughter-in-law Anne Hutchinson.

He is survived by his brother, Thomas Martin (wife Joan); children Wendell Martin (wife Janette), Kevin Martin (wife Gemma), Cory Martin (wife Tracie), Wesley Martin (wife Kathy) and Melissa Frakes (husband Brent); grandchildren Jessica Pollard (husband Henry), Elise Martin, Steve Martin, Nathan Martin (wife Emma and stepson Kaiden), Austin Martin, Brandon Martin, Amanda Martin, and Joshua Martin; and one great-grandson, Asher Pollard.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Monday, August 24, 2026. Funeral Service will be held at 4:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Monday, August 24, 2026. Inurnment will be at 10:00 AM in the Calhoun Cemetery on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

Please send memorials to Southside Christian Church (Council Bluffs, IA) or Compassion International (Compassion.com).