I R Martinez

I.R. Martinez May 12, 1927 - August 26, 2013 Garden City, Kansas Visitation: 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. August 29, 2013 at Garnand Funeral Home - Garden City, KS Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. August 30, 2013 at St. Mary Catholic Church Interment: Valley View Cemetery I. R. Martinez, 86, of Garden City, died Monday August 26, 2013, at High Plains Retirement Village in Lakin, Kansas. He was born May 12, 1927, in Ness City, Kansas the son of Nazario & Carmen (Rodriguez) Martinez. I.R. grew up with his family in Copeland, Kansas. He attended Copeland schools and graduated from Copeland High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from May 1945 to July 1946. On October 3, 1953, he married Josephine Valenzuela in Garden City, Kansas. They lived in Copeland for a short time before moving to Garden City. They have lived in Garden City since. I.R. worked in construction before becoming the owner of his own painting business. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church; a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus; and he had served on the Garden City Family YMCA Board of Directors. I.R. enjoyed coaching American Legion Baseball; coaching sports at the YMCA and the Garden City Recreation Commission. He also enjoyed dancing and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Survivors include a son Orlando Martinez of Wichita, Kansas; three daughters Belinda Martinez of Lubbock, Texas, Amelia Sena of Garden City, Kansas; and and Alesia Martinez of Garden City, Kansas; five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. I.R. is preceded in death by his wife Josephine who died on June 3, 2000. He is also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers Raymond and Jay; and two sisters Mikayla and Ruth.