Clyde A. Martin Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Clyde Allen Martin died of heart failure on September 25, 2017, in Bradenton, Florida. The painful shock of his death is eased in part by the knowledge that his star did not falter and fade, but rather burned brightly right up to the end. Clyde left the world as he came into it: full of a powerful life force. Clyde was born on November 18, 1942, in Davenport, Iowa, to Edna (Daude) Martin and Herschel Martin. He was the first of five children to be raised on their farm outside of Bennett, Iowa, and he was entrusted with great responsibility at a very early age. For instance, he remembered driving the tractor at four years old, with blocks attached to his shoes so he could reach the pedals. He described himself as shy among his peers, but at home he was a leader. His mother remembered him as a storyteller and a bit of a comedian; his siblings often thought of him as the boss. Clyde was the first person in his family to graduate from college. He put himself through Iowa State University by working in the summers and during the school year, as well as by taking some semesters off to earn the money he needed to continue his studies. He graduated with a degree in agronomy in the winter of 1965/66. Immediately after graduation, he started working as a salesman for an agricultural chemical company. In December 1966, he married Gaylen Nelson; together they lived in Reinbeck, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Miles, Iowa, before eventually settling in Preston. Between 1965 – 1971, Clyde served a six-year term in the U.S. Army Reserves. Clyde and Gaylen had two daughters, Audrey, who was born in 1969, and Amy, born in 1972. He loved being a father and gave his daughters many happy childhood memories of his playful spirit, his interest in the world around him, and his open heart. One of his great joys was taking his daughters on adventures, whether it was on a boat ride on the Mississippi River or a hike in the Rocky Mountains. Clyde had a strong nurturing side, and he placed great value on kindness. He taught his daughters to work hard, to believe in their own abilities, and to take the risks they needed in order to grow. In 1971, Clyde started his own business, Martin Ag, in Preston, Iowa. The business became the primary vehicle through which he expressed his desire to innovate and to lead. He was an early adopter of the use of computers, and he advocated science-based decision making in all aspects of agriculture. In the 1970s, Clyde became involved in the Iowa Fertilizer Association, becoming its president in the 1980s. He pioneered the use of soil sampling and crop scouting as tools for tailoring applications of fertilizer and pesticide to the needs of specific farms and fields – practices which have since been adopted as the industry norm. His work in this area eventually led to the development of a separate company, AgWorks. When the Farm Crisis of the 1980s hit, Clyde responded by digging in his heels and working harder than ever to keep Martin Ag alive. This grit and determination, combined with an unflagging optimism, were signature elements of his approach to life. He firmly believed that hard work would be rewarded and that good always wins in the end. In 1995, Clyde married Barbara Kerr Brown. Clyde and Barb were more than partners, they were best friends. They understood each other, deeply enjoyed spending time together, and took care of each other in countless ways. Together, they built a community of friends in Maquoketa, Iowa and Palmetto, Florida, with whom they golfed, boated, fished, traveled and generally “goofed off” (the words Clyde used to distinguish any activity that wasn’t work). No one was as closely connected to Clyde as Barb, and no one will feel his loss more keenly. Throughout his life, Clyde had a strong desire to bring people together for the common good. In the 1970s and ‘80s, he was very involved in church and community activities, such as leading the Sunday school at Miles Presbyterian Church, and helping to start the public library in Preston. Since his move to Palmetto, Florida in 2011, he took an active role in the Tropic Isles Co-op where he and Barb made their home. Clyde had been serving as president of Tropic Isles Co-op since March of 2015, and in fact was leading a board meeting when he had the heart attack that took his life. He loved being part of this close-knit community, and he would be deeply touched by the outpouring of support they have so generously offered in this difficult time. Clyde was a man of purpose, of action, and of ideas. He was his own person; he charted his own course, and he was willing to take a stand. He was motivated by a desire to be useful to others, and he didn’t wait for someone else to tell him how to do that – he jumped in and made it happen. He used his creativity to find possibilities where others saw problems, and he naturally generated excitement for his ideas with his charismatic personality and his belief that anything was possible. He also knew how to find fun, and make it. In short, Clyde loved life, and was loved by many. He will be greatly missed. Clyde is survived by Barb Martin; his children, step-children and their spouses, Audrey Martin and Francis Fryscak, Amy Martin, Melissa Brown Hanifen, Jason Brown, and Jarad and Monica Brown; his grandchildren Gabriel and Beckett Martin-Fryscak, Ryann Hanifen, Zachary, Hunter and Tucker Brown, and Mason and Kendall Brown; his siblings Dean (Linda) Martin, Donna Martin, Kenny (Connie) Martin; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Clyde was preceded in death by his parents, Edna and Herschel Martin, and his sister Lois Badtrum. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 at the First United Methodist Church of Palmetto on Wednesday, October 4th. Memorial contributions may be made to the Red Cross.

Clyde A. Martin

November 18, 1942 - September 25, 2017