Harry "Pete" Martens

Harry “Catfish Pete” Martens had a unique love and knowledge of the Mississippi River that made him a breed known as a “River Rat.” At the age of 87, Pete passed away on February 13, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, where he resided for several years. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 18, 2016 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Burial of ashes will be in Bethel Cemetery, Milledgeville. A memorial visitation will be held 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 18, 2016, at the funeral home, prior to the service.
Pete was born in York Township on August 5, 1928, the son of Oscar and Hannah (Hanson) Martens. His family came from Germany in 1923. He married LaVonne “Bonnie” Kunde on October 15, 1947, at the Messiah Lutheran Church Parsonage, Sterling. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before Bonnie’s death on November 17, 2012.
Pete worked for Ted Schmidt Quickway, Inc. in Milledgeville for several years. He also worked for CTS Fertilizer, Milledgeville, and helped build local churches for two years before buying and remodeling the old Gamble Store in Milledgeville into the Martin House Restaurant, which he and Bonnie owned and operated. They later moved to Thomson, where they built and ran the Riverview Road Store and Campground. Pete and Bonnie took on their final project and business by remodeling the VFW building in Savanna and opening up the Pool 13 Supper Club, where he was known for his catfish supper.
Pete was an active outdoorsman and he could spot a deer a mile away. He hunted, fished and trapped most of his life. He was known as the “Catfish King.” His favorite fishing was whenever he got the opportunity to fish with his grandchildren, he would get that extra glow on his face and a smile that seemed just a little wider. Pete was also an avid Chicago Bears and Cubs fan.
Pete is survived by a daughter, Connie Bell (Steven) of Largo, Florida; a son, Tim (Susan) Martens of Pearl City, Illinois; grandchildren, Dennis Martens, Nikkie Bell, Devin (Jolene) Martens, Natalie Bell, and Derek Martens; great-grandchildren, Kip, Sandra, Dustin, Samuel, and Genevieve; a brother, Werner Martens of Rock Falls, Illinois; a brother-in-law, Robert Peterson of Dannebrog, Nebraska; and several nieces and nephews. Pete was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie; both parents; a sister, Anne; and son-in-law, Sam Bell.