Martin Elias Balmer, 89, of Merrill, Iowa, passed away Sunday, January 12, 2025, at his daughter's home in LeMars surrounded by family.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 17, 2025, and a Celebration of Life Service will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. There will also be visitation following the service during a light reception at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com.

Martin Elias Balmer, the son of Niels and Junette (Anfinson) Balmer, was born on September 16, 1935, in Dolliver, Iowa. He grew up in Estherville, Iowa, and graduated from Estherville High School in 1953.

He was united in marriage to Barbara Stoddard on November 27, 1954, in Estherville.

Martin enlisted in the United States Army in 1956. He received his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was then stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. It was here Martin received training on the Nike Missiles at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Then Martin and his family were relocated to Okinawa Japan. He worked with the Nike Missile system in Okinawa during the Vietnam War. He then returned stateside and was stationed at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Further assignment took the family to the Panama Canal Zone where Martin worked on the Sturgis, a floating nuclear power station. The family returned to Ft. Belvoir after 4 years where Martin was an instructor for the nuclear power program until his retirement in 1976. Following his discharge, Martin continued to work in the nuclear power field.

In 1978 Martin and Barbara returned to their roots in Northwest Iowa, settling in Merrill. Martin went to work for the Western Area Power Association for 20 years. Following his retirement from this position he became the Plymouth County Veterans Affairs Officer for the next 10 years.

Martin loved being involved in numerous family activities, which included traveling and sporting events. He enjoyed doing paint with diamonds artwork and entered some of his projects in the Plymouth County Fair, which earned him numerous ribbons. Martin enjoyed reading a good book in his spare time and was an avid fan of Tom Clancy and Sidney Sheldon. He was a longtime member of the Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 in Merrill.

Survivors include his five children: Kathy Balmer of Le Mars, Sheryl (Wayne) Chrestiansen of Estherville, IA, Steven (Melanie) Balmer of Le Mars, LeighAnne (Dan) Bohlken of Le Mars, and Keith (Rosa) Balmer of Gooding, ID, 12 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and his sister, Beverley Crum of Sioux City, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara Balmer; and a brother, Dale Balmer.