Bruce Eugene Martin was born March 16, 1955, to Glenn Keith Martin and Hazel Eva (Tolle) Martin, joining his older brother, Byron, on their family farm just outside of Hancock, Iowa. Keith and Hazel raised Bruce to love the land, as he would be a lifelong farmer.
In school, Bruce enjoyed hanging out with friends, art, and playing sports from basketball, track, town baseball, and his favorite, being a fullback on the football team. He was often named the Back of the Week by the newspaper and his schoolmates honored him by naming him Mr. Football in 1972. Bruce graduated Avo-Ha High School with the class of 1973, and went on to Des Moines Area Community College earning a degree in Agri-Business: Agri-Supply in 1975. Bruce worked at Walnut Grove research farm outside of Atlantic out of college and worked his way up to management before taking an opportunity to move to Fort Collins, CO, and attend Colorado State University briefly. Upon returning to the area in late 1981, romance blossomed when he saw Rojeane Hogeland at The Exchange one night. The two were united in marriage on November 23, 1985. They had one daughter, Kimberly Jean. They eventually made their home in Avoca before moving to the family farm in Hancock.
Bruce worked at the Bluffs Run Dog Track for many years and helped open the Bluffs Run Casino as well. He was also a sub rural mail carrier for over 30 years, often working overnights and delivering mail a few hours later. He eventually got his own full-time route and retired from the post office in 2019.
Bruce was known for smoking excellent meat and created The Big Man’s Beef Jerky which was sold in many bars and shops around Iowa. Bruce worked hard throughout his life but he always made sure his family got to have fun and go on vacation to Okoboji every summer. He enjoyed skiing and snowmobile trips in his younger years, college reunions with his DMACC buddies, Husker football with Steve Emken, following Kimi’s activities and any chance he got to watch a good football game. He took much joy in riding his old Indian motorcycle, especially with the Jims and friends on the Freeman Ride, with Kimi and her friends, and his trip to Sturgis in 2013. Bruce was full of funny stories and loved any chance to be with friends and family.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, brother Byron Martin, sister-in-law Janice Martin, and brother-in-law Rodney Hogeland. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of over 38 years, Rojeane of Hancock, IA; his daughter, Kimberly Martin of Council Bluffs, IA; sisters-in-law Roxanne (Jim) Hester of Avoca, IA; Rhonda (Jim) Ryan of Avoca, IA; Robin (Jim) Rittenberger of Gretna, NE; Shirley Hogeland of Wiggins, CO; several nieces and nephews and many other family and friends.
