Hans Helmuth Martens

Hans Helmuth Martens, 92, of Hudson, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, November 5, 2026. He was born in Göttingen, Germany, October 25, 1934, son of Ernst and Christa (Nullmeier) Martens. Hans moved to a small island in the North Sea called Foehr, residing there until coming to America July 3, 1953. His sponsor in Waterloo, Iowa, was Martin Lorenzen. Hans moved to Charles City in 1954 to work for Oliver Tractor. There Hans found his life long love, Gisela Preiss. After losing his job with Oliver, he followed her to Ketchikan, Alaska and worked at a pulp mill. In 1957, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and did his training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, then was stationed in Washington D.C. to work on maps in the Pentagon. Hans married Gisela in a beautiful military wedding on May 25, 1957 in Arkansas. Following an honorable discharge, they moved back to Waterloo where they raised two amazing girls. Hans worked at Viking Pump in Cedar Falls for 37 years, retiring in 1996.

Hans was preceded in death by daughter, Susanna Martens and her infant daughter, then by his daughter, Heidi Rogers; his sister, Annamarie Gulley; and his mother. He is survived by Giesela, his wife of 69 years; 4 grandchildren: Justin Lee (Whitney) Jensen of Cedar Falls, Benjamin Ross Jensen of Nashville, Tennessee, Nicholas Hans (Karin) Jensen of Huntsville, Alabama and Shannon Gisela Small of Colorado; son-in-law, Dwight Rogers of Cedar Falls; and many, many nieces and nephews.

Hans’ family will hold a Celebration of Life at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home on Monday, November 23, 2026, with Visitation from 10-11AM and a Service at 11AM. He will be inurned at the Hudson Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be directed to UnityPoint Hospice.