Robert Martin

Robert Louis Martin May 21, 1937 – April 21, 2025.

Robert lived his life on the family farm in rural Saskatoon.

He is survived by his brother Bernard Martin (Phyllis), sister Jeannette Martin (Jack Ritenburg), nephews Daniel, Darryl (Patti), and David Martin. He also leaves many cousins, both close and distant.

He was predeceased by his sister Louise Lorette Shaver and parents Lucien August and Vera Marie Martin.

Robert attended Hessledale School #3557, completing high school through Correspondence Lessons as high school was not taught in the small rural schools. He furthered his education through several courses at the University of Saskatchewan with classes including, among others, Electricity in Rural Development, Water Retention in the Prairies, The Art of Mig, Arc and Acetylene Welding.

Robert was a guy who wore many hats and wore them well. He had the ability to take intricate things apart and remember how to put them together, even after several months had passed. He was a top notch mechanic and welder, evidenced by the many friends, neighbours and acquaintances who would appear at his shop with problems to fix; he was even known to make house calls to repair equipment.

Robert’s love of farming and cattle was nurtured by his father; over the years he increased the cow/calf operation to over 100 head and constructed a 2000 head feedlot. They were busy years, at times Robert had 5 hired men working with him; some staying for several years.

He used professional cattle buyers, if there is such a phrase, but he also bought cattle from local farmers. All available barley and other feed grains and straw were purchased from local farmers.

Robert, with help from the University of Saskatchewan’s Feedlot Health Program, became expert at calculating feed rations and supplements for all stages of development; each pen would have a different menu and rations to encourage uniformity in growth.

He was a top notch cattleman as evidenced in comments by Dr. Eugene Janzen, head of the University’s Feedlot Health Program when he would say “if I were a cow I’ve always thought I’d like to be a cow at Robert Martin’s place”

Robert loved to visit, either sitting on a 5 gallon pail in the shop with a neighbour working on a project or repairs or sitting in the office chatting with neighbours and customers. A really good friend might catch him in the house for a coffee.

In the days before computers and cell phones 4H Clubs were an integral part of growing up for rural kids, Robert was a 4H Club Leader for several years. An email, recently received from one of those kids, now a Lutheran Minister in British Columbia stated that “Robert was a great supporter of community and especially kids in 4H. He opened our world to so many potentialities, safe gun handling, square dancing, curling, gardening. It was our entry to the larger community.

Under Robert’s leadership, our 4H Club entry of a thematic display on road safety, “Drive to Arrive Alive” placed first at the Saskatoon Exhibition and went on display at the Provincial Exhibition in Regina”.

Robert loved to fly, from an early age making balsa wood and tissue paper model airplanes to building snowplanes then onto a pilot’s license and a plane that flew. He started with a Cessna 170B CF-HQC to a Cessna 185 Skywagon CF- GUX, then a Piper SuperCub which he used for crop spraying.

He loved flying family and friends within the province and beyond its borders, he loved flying to Dore Lake to spend time at his cottage, he loved boating and watching someone else fish and he loved spending the coldest part of the winter at his home in Yuma, Arizona.

Memorial Donations: Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan
PO Box 40039 RPO Grasslands Regina, Sask. S4W 9Z9

Funds raised in Saskatchewan stay in Saskatchewan

Member of COPA (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association)

Member of Flying Farmers International Leader of 4H Clubs

Member of Rimfire Rifle Club

Member of Ducks Unlimited RM Councillor