Donald G. Martinson

Donald George Martinson, a resident of Wellshire at Balfour in Louisville, passed away peacefully on Dec 5, 2016 at age 100. Born February 21, 1916 in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the only child of Fred and Hazel (King) Martinson, Don’s gentle manner and sense of humor survived his physical decline. In 1930, Don was awarded his Eagle Scout badge by Rear Admiral Richard Byrd at a regional event in Sioux Falls SD. Don graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1933 then attended Mankato Commercial College. He worked for Wilson & Co. in Detroit and in Wausau WI until Jan 1942, when he enlisted in the US Army Quartermaster Corp. After serving as Master Sergeant at the port in Liverpool, England, Don returned to the Quartermaster General Officer Candidate School in Ft. Washington MD. He was appointed 2nd Lt. (later Capt.), assigned to an Army Air Corp heavy bomber group stationed in Italy. Don was also a long-time officer in the Air Force Reserve, retiring in 1976 as Lt. Col. After the war, Don returned to Albert Lea and in Aug 1946 married his high school classmate, Alice Sund. Don managed two independent lumberyards until they were sold to conglomerates, Bertelson Lumber in Albert Lea and then Hatch and Brookman in Cedar Rapids IA. Don then became a pricing administrator for Collins Radio (later Rockwell Intl) in Cedar Rapids, working on projects that included the guidance and communications systems for NASA’s Gemini and Apollo programs. Don and Alice rarely traveled outside the Midwest, but they did join son-in-law Tom and family in Stockholm for the 1989 Nobel festivities. In 1992, Don and Alice moved to Sun City, Arizona. Alice died in Sun City on Dec 27, 1997. Don then joined the Sun City (Maricopa County) Sheriff’s Posse, retiring in 2010 at age 94. He moved to Boulder in 2011 to be near his daughter and family. Surviving Don are sons Reid (Rosie) and Lee (Lucy Payne) of Minnesota, daughter Carol Cech (Tom) of Boulder, grandchildren Allison (Jason), Jennifer, Alec, Erin, Ryan, Jenna, Anna, and Erik, and one great-grandchild born a century after Don. In addition to his wife Alice in 1997, Don was predeceased by a daughter Lisa in 1974. Don requested no memorial. Ashes will be scattered in Minnesota, joining those of his wife Alice. Contributions to Tru Community Care hospice at TruCare.org are welcome. Family may be contacted at martinsonfamily100@gmail.com.