Mark Owen Martens

Mark Owen Martens, 82, passed away on Mon., June 24, 2019, at his home with his wife of 42 years by his side.

Mark was born on Sept. 22, 1936, in Cheyenne, Wyo., to Julius O. and Dorothy Marie Martens. Mark grew up in Cheyenne and graduated from Cheyenne High School with the class of 1955. Following high school Mark worked in several different situations including a service station in Cheyenne, U.S. Steel Corporation in Pueblo Colo., and as an oilfield pipe hauler in New Mexico.

In 1959 Mark married Joyce Faber and together they raised three children. They later divorced in 1975. In 1962 he began employment with the Wyoming Highway Department in Cheyenne as a Maintainer. During his 30 years of this employment, he rose through the ranks of the Highway Maintenance Department to become a foreman and crew leader first in Cheyenne and later in Thermopolis, Wyo. Mark is remembered by his employees as a strict taskmaster who challenged his crews to excellence in their work together.

In 1977 Mark married Kaye Lynette (Harper) Cowley in Cheyenne and a year later moved to Thermopolis, Wyo., Mark retired from the Wyoming Highway Department in 1992 and then in 1994 the couple moved to Chandler, Ariz., living there at the time of his death. He enjoyed retirement in Arizona, golfing, making new friends and taking in many activities of their retirement community. He learned to make custom golf clubs and taught himself the craft of creating stained glass works of art, which adorn his home and became coveted gifts to family and friends.

In his younger years, Mark was a member of the Wyoming Auto Racing Club and enjoyed racing stock cars. He was also an avid bowler. Trophies won attest to his accomplishments in both racing and bowling. Additionally, Mark was a member of the Wyoming State Employees Association and the Elks Club of Thermopolis. While in Thermopolis, Mark earned a private pilot’s license and enjoyed flying for a time.

Mark is survived by his wife, Kaye Lynette; son, Kennie (Debbie) Martens; daughters, Sheryl (Johnny) Kovalcik and Connie (Scott) Powell; stepdaughter, Tracy (Robert) Aylward; stepson, Scott (Maria) Cowley; sister, Elnora Mrazik; brother, James Martens; 11 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.