Martin L Fortkamp

Martin Louis Fortkamp departed this life December 31, 2020 at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook at the age of 100.

Martin was born June 13, 1920 on the south divide in rural Chase County Nebraska to Henry C. and Sophia (Haarberg) Fortkamp in the family home.
Martin attended a rural school near the family farm and St. Paul Lutheran parochial school. Martin was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran church south of Wauneta.

On February 14, 1951, he was united in marriage to Erma Donze in Wauneta, Nebraska. To this union two children were born, son Duane and daughter Gayla. They made their home on their farm in Hayes County until retirement in 1990 and moved to Wauneta, Nebraska. In 2011 Martin and Erma moved to Brookdale Senior Living Community in McCook. Martin moved to Hillcrest Nursing Home in 2017 and Erma joined Martin at Hillcrest Nursing Home in 2018.

During his life Martin worked tirelessly, first on his parent’s farm and then on his own farm. Martin loved music and played his harmonica to entertain family and friends. Martin played baseball and softball and earned the nickname of “Pepper Martin” for his great third base play. He loved pitching horseshoes with family and friends and entered horseshoe competitions where he won many trophies. He also enjoyed spending time with his family playing pitch and rummy card games.

Martin was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Palisade until retirement and was then a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wauneta.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents Henry C. and Sophia (Haarberg) Fortkamp: his wife Erma ( Donze) Fortkamp, great grandson Wyatt Smidt,
brothers and sisters in law: William Fortkamp and wife Ada, John Fortkamp and wife Anna, Fredrick Fortkamp and wife Merle, Ervin Fortkamp and wife Viola, Albert Fortkamp, Emil Fortkamp and wife Opal, Arthur Fortkamp and wife Nina, and Laverne Fortkamp; sisters and brothers in law; Hilda (Fortkamp) Roschewski and husband William, Velma (Fortkamp) Doetker and husband Albert, Violet (Fortkamp) Long and husband Wendell.
Martin is survived by his two children, son, Duane (Patricia) of McCook and daughter Gayla (Steve) Swisher of McCook.
Four grandchildren, Michael (Jeanette) Fortkamp of Ponca City, Okla.; Kathy (Kyle) Smidt of Kearney; Sarah (Brandi) Lister of Norwalk, Iowa and David Swisher of Gunnison, Colorado.
six-great grandchildren, Matthew Fortkamp, Morgan Fortkamp, Marcus Fortkamp, Kourtney Lovelady, Ashlyn Smidt and Emma Lister,
and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.



There will be no visitation the day prior to the funeral service. Family requests masks be worn to the service and social distancing will be observed at the funeral service.

The funeral service will be held Friday, January 8, 2021, 10:30AM MST at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wauneta, Nebraska, officiated by Pastor Gary Fortkamp.
Interment will follow at the Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta.

Memorials have been suggested to Redeemer Lutheran Church
of Wauneta.