Obituary of Laverne Martin

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Laverne Martin passed away on January 19, 2026. He will be missed by his wife, Elizabeth, and their children Marlowe (Lisa) Martin, Maureen (Don) Hammer, Marjorie (Doug) Sibbick, Melodee (Kevin) Fox, and daughter-in-law Deborah Warren, 16 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Laverne and Elizabeth’s son, Mark, passed away in February 2025.

Laverne was the oldest of eight children born to Abraham S. and Ellen (Bauman) Martin. He will be fondly remembered by his siblings: Edmund Martin, Howard Martin, Ellen Dettwiler, Maurice (Phyllis) Martin, and James (Ruth) Martin, as well as many nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by Elizabeth’s relatives and family members. He was predeceased by his parents; his sister Lorene (Earle) Bean and Martha (Lawrence) Martin, his brother, Elmer (in infancy); sisters-in-law, Joyce Martin, Esther Martin, and Doris Martin; and his brothers-in-law, Carl Dettwiler, Lawrence Martin, and Earle Bean.

Laverne was born at the family farmhouse near Erbsville, Ontario. He started school in a one-room schoolhouse at age six, and when he turned 14 years old, his formal education ended with only two months to go in grade 8. He stayed home to help with farm work, as was the practice in many Mennonite farm families. However, Laverne’s future aspirations weren’t limited to farm life, and when he was 18, he began to work for a house-building contractor in Waterloo. During those years, he also took construction-related night-school courses at Kitchener Collegiate Institute (KCI), as well as a six-week winter Bible School course at First Mennonite Church in Kitchener. In 1957 Laverne married his first love, Elizabeth Schwartz. Two years later, around the time their first child, Mark, arrived, they built their first family home on Benjamin Road in Waterloo.

At age 29, Laverne started his own construction business which he operated for 31 years. A downturn in the construction business took him to Beaver Lumber where he worked as a salesman until his retirement.  Always the entrepreneur, Laverne invested in a computer with architectural software and drew plans for a variety of buildings and renovations and sold them to many of the contacts he met through his time at Beaver Lumber until he turned 88 years of age.

Laverne’s faith was an integral part of his life. He believed in being a follower of Jesus and was baptized at St. Jacob’s Mennonite Church at age 13. He and Elizabeth ventured out, or into, being founding members of Waterloo North Mennonite Church and were active members in its early life. Another important part of their family life was their summer vacation times at Chesley Lake Camp in their seasonal trailer. There they developed many lasting friendships.

The family invites you to a time of visitation at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S, Waterloo, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The funeral service will take place at Waterloo North Mennonite Church, 100 Benjamin Rd., Waterloo, on Friday, February 13, 2026, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow in the Church Hall. Private family interment to take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) may be arranged through the funeral home at 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com.