Eliseo R. Martinez's Obituary
Eliseo R. Martinez
July 5, 1924 – July 8, 2017
Our dear and most wonderful husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend Eliseo R. Martinez passed away peacefully on July 8, 2017 at the grand old age of 93. Words will never adequately express how much we love him or how deeply he is missed. He could have been 110 and we would have still wanted more time with him. He was the most caring, generous, kind, loving, intelligent, talented and all around wonderful person we will ever know. We miss his joyful presence, intellectual musings and gentle sense of humor every day.
Eliseo R. Martinez was born on July 5, 1924 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Castulo Martinez and Domitila Rivera Martinez. He was the eldest of five (surviving) children. He was the true epitome of what Tom Brokaw called the “Greatest Generation.” At a very young age he was charged with helping to take care of his brothers and sister and providing for the family. He attended West High School where he excelled in his studies and graduated early. At age 16 during his last year of high school he began training as an aircraft mechanic. Soon after, he had the opportunity to work at Hill Air Force base. This experience would be fortuitous when he served in World War II. It was literally at the last minute that he was pulled from the unit he was assigned and reassigned as an aircraft mechanic. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp. (a precursor to the U.S. Air Force) in Freckleton, England. Sadly, the original troop he was assigned to all perished. Eliseo said he was forever grateful that he took the opportunity to work at Hill Airforce base—even if it was a very long drive and he had to be there by 5:00AM every day and then go back to school in the afternoon. He was never afraid of hard work. He approached each new task with enthusiasm and the words “obstacle” and “cannot” were not in his vocabulary. If he did not know how to do something he read about it and taught himself how. --And he did not just learn how to do it, he mastered it beautifully. He was an avid lifelong learner and a consummate professional. He believed if something was worth doing it was worth doing correctly.
After he returned from the service, Eliseo attended the University of Utah on the G.I. bill where he majored in architecture and minored in music. He truly had the gift of genius as he was proficient in mathematics and science as well as deftly creative in art, dance and music. Eliseo had many talents which he generously and selflessly shared with others, either through his work, teaching, volunteering or performing.
After college, he served an LDS mission in Mexico, where he met many people who became lifelong friends.
Eliseo was a true renaissance man. He was a classically trained musician and played the classical accordion beautifully. He led the Luwa Mex dance troop at the Lucero LDS ward in Salt Lake City, UT for many years. Not only did he choreograph, he provided the transportation, performed the music for both practices and many performances and made their beautifully elaborate and exquisite costumes. The ward could not afford to buy them or have them made so Eliseo taught himself how to sew, spent his own money and made the costumes. His dedication, hard work and generosity had no bounds.
Eliseo was an aircraft mechanic at Lockheed Martin in Burbank CA during the 1950s and worked as a master cartographer for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in SLC, UT for over thirty years. Many times it was expressed that few or none could surpass the quality of work completed by Eliseo Martinez. He never shared this with others, however when we had the opportunity to meet with his co-workers and supervisors they were very forthcoming with praise and gratitude for his work and expertise as they proudly showed us his meticulously created maps---truly works of art not just instruments of navigation.
Eliseo married his love and partner in every sense of the word Irma Casares of Weslaco, Texas in the Salt Lake City, LDS Temple. They have three children, Ninette, Darcy and Richard. Eliseo was ahead of his time by about 50 years. He was very involved with parenting and spending time with all of his children. When Irma wanted to train as a Montessori teacher and start her own preschool (The Montessori Children’s House) he encouraged her and supported her every step of the way. He even took time off of work to accompany her to Montclair, New Jersey where she completed her training while he took care of the children. Eliseo would often talk about how proud he was of Irma and marveled at how astute she was not only as a teacher and educator but as a business woman as well. After he retired from the BLM he partnered with Irma to create supplemental educational materials for the preschool. She told him what she needed and he crafted the most beautifully illustrated materials to her exact specifications. Through his company Children’s Work, Eliseo continued his research and development of educational materials. His final creation (at age 91) was a beautiful beginning Botany book for preschool and elementary age children. He left many unfinished projects and notes on ideas for potential projects-- and he always said he still had much to accomplish.
Eliseo loved his family more than anything in the world and even up to age 92 he made his famous pot roast and mashed potatoes on special occasions and helped to make Christmas dinner 2016. There truly was not much if anything that Eliseo could not do. He was an amazing person. He was a man of intellect, creativity and integrity, but above all he was kind and good natured, a wonderful husband, father and friend. There is no way possible to pay adequate tribute to someone who has touched so many lives, given so much of himself and made the world a better place through his presence and actions. Dad taught us by the way he chose to live his life, through his compassion and strength of character. We love music, art and science because he taught us to be curious about the world and he took every opportunity to teach us and help us learn something new. He taught us to be kind and accepting, loving and strong. He taught us the joy of learning and the exhilaration of mastering a new task. He taught us to embrace our strengths, to not be afraid of hard work and to love with all our hearts. The gifts he has left with us are immeasurable. He is forever in our hearts and we thank him for the fortitude of his love and the legacy of a life lived with integrity and purpose. There will never be anyone like him. He was truly the best. The greatest gift we his children will ever receive is having him for our father. Until we meet again, we love you so very much.
Eliseo was preceded in death by his brothers Michael, Arturo (and his wife Andrea), and Joel; his sister Irene (and her husband Orlando Rivera) and nephews Michael Martinez, Ronald Martinez and Arturo Rivera. And most recently by many dear cousins including Elias Torres who was like a brother to him. We find comfort in knowing they are together again.
Eliseo is survived by his brother Ephraim “Temi” Martinez and his wife Stella; his wife Irma, his children and grandchildren; Ninette (husband Chris Weisbender), Darcy (husband Thomas Nielsen, sons Christian Braathen and Oliver Nielsen) and Richard Martinez. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews who he loved very much.
Extra special thanks to his nieces Patti Rivera Lucero and Alicia Martinez Mishkin for their visits, kindness and support; to the Mulford Family and brother-in-law Robert Mulford for the beautiful and inspired blessing that we know helped to comfort and sustain him during the last months of his life; to his brother “Temi” who faithfully came to visit him every week and sister-in-law Stella who baked many special treats for him; to special cousins Ruth Torres and Carlos “Chuck” Torres for their visits and love. Seeing you all brought him so much joy and great comfort. Dad loved all of you very much and there are so many people to thank we are sorry we are not able to mention you all here. Please know that if Dad knew you, he had a special place in his heart for you.
Thank you to all the physicians, nurses and professionals at the LDS and Intermountain hospitals; to Darlene, Diosdado, Mel and Gina from Hillside Rehabilitation Center; to Dr. Scott Sheriden, Dr. Kent Meredith, Dr. Jonathan Grant, Dr. Sherman Johnson, Dr. Greg Litton, Dr. Jane Macpherson and Louise Tobey, PA; and special thanks to his home health nurses Steve Jarret, Becky and all the Quality Home Health provider team; to Dakota with Medical Transport Company and Mr. Blake Yates of Premier Funeral Services.
Eliseo always said that “life is for the living.” He wanted people to remember him as he was in life; vital, active, healthy and industrious. Therefore, instead of a funeral, a private grave side service with military honors was held at the Utah Veteran’s Cemetery and Memorial Park, 17111 South Camp Williams Road (1700 West), Bluffdale, UT 84065.
We ask that you remember Eliseo as you see fit, perhaps with a call or visit to a loved one, a donation to a favorite charity or someone in need, by a kind act for another or just by thinking of a special memory of him. We believe that families are forever and that we will be together again. With love, from the Eliseo R. Martinez Family
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