Robert V. Martz, beloved pastor and friend to all he met, ended his journey here on earth on August 1, 2019. He was 87 years old. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio to parents Fred and Marjorie Martz, he knew by the time he was in high school that he wanted to be a pastor. While attending the College of Wooster he met his wife, Shirley, with whom he shared sixty five years of marriage. They have two children, Robert Dean (Joyce) in Spokane, WA and Mary Jane Hee (John) in Mesa, AZ.
After completing his Masters of Divinity degree at McCormick Theological Seminary, Bob was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in Lincoln, NE in 1957 where he served his first congregation. He believed in following God’s call to serve which led him to minister to congregations in Santa Ana and Pasadena, CA, Mesa, AZ, Fort Collins, CO, Sun City, AZ. and as interim pastor in Honolulu, HI. Following that same spirit of call he briefly served churches in Hana, Maui, HI, Sitka, AK, St. Andrews, Scotland, Arrowtown, New Zealand and preached in the American Church in Paris, France.
Bob’s greatest joy was facilitating the growth/success of others. He was truly a servant leader, he was both innovative and inclusive in his ministry.
Gpa will be missed by Malia and Cameron Hee and Julie (Omar)and Grace Martz and Dale Kearney his grandkids.
A memorial celebration of his life will be held September 28 at 10:30AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Mesa at 161 N Mesa Drive.
Dear Shirley and family, I just got an e-mail from a member of First Presbyterian Church, Fort Collins, and wife of my former boss, Linda Wagner, updating me on people I knew a d happenings there. It got me thinking of another boss, Bob, while I was office manager at First Presbyterian. To my shock, after googling him, to find he passed away a few days ago. I always loved working with and for him and getting to know you, Shirley. Dwight and I have many fond memories of that time in our lives and the wonderful staff we had. We send you and all your family our love. Agape, Sue and Dwight Mikkelsen
Dear Shirley and Family,
Sheri and I were surprised to hear that Rev. Martz had passed away. The Kerr Family considered Rev. Martz to be “our” pastor ever since he came to Mesa. He married Sheri and I in the desert in the foothills of the Superstition Mountains 44 years ago this December and Shirley and Rev Martz visited with us in Maui while we were living there. He was one of the kindest man I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and considered him a “spiritual giant”. His grasp of God’s love and his ability to bring that to others, especially the Kerr Family will be his eternal legacy. I will never forget the conversations we had. They have impacted me up to this very day and have helped me to have a very real and personal relationship with our Lord. I know my family and the rest of 1st Presbyterian Church in Mesa feel the same way.
With much love, Johnny and Sheri Kerr