Martin J. Akin

Martin Jeffery Akin, 93, of Axtell, Kan., died January 9, 2019 at Crestview Nursing and Residential Living in Seneca, Kan. Visitation was Sunday, January 13, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home in Axtell. A funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 14, at the United Methodist Church in Axtell. Rev. Janelle Knowles officiated. Darlene Porting played the organ while the congregation sang “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art” and “The Old Rugged Cross”. The pallbearers were Lonnie Akin, Heidi Hanten, Jeremy Dandron, Shad Dandron, Tracie Kaster, Chastity Oller, Michelle Lewis, Holly Dixon, Jennifer Ploeger, Daniel Kruse, Shaunna Skrondahl, Stephanie Jarvis, Brittany Orona and Kyle Akin. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Martin was born December 9, 1925, at Summerfield, Kan., to Morson and Marie (Montague) Akin. On March 8, 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy at the age of 18. On May 10, 1946, he was discharged and received his high school diploma after returning home. On March 6, 1949, he married Esther White at Summerfield. He went into farming, worked for Wayne Neff and then operated his own construction business. During his construction work, he built Fort Markley with logs from his farm. He retired in 1987. Playing cards, going on short bus trips and playing BINGO were some of his favorite pastimes. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Esther on June 20, 2009; brothers, Oscar, Phillip, Charles and Glenn Akin; sister, Marvelyn Durkes Gress; one granddaughter, Christy Akin: and one great-great granddaughter, Madison Lee. Survivors include his four children, Tommy (Paula) Akin, Glendale, Ariz., Douglas (Candie) Akin, Axtell, Charlotte (Dwight) Kruse, Fairview, Kan., and Randall (Shelby) Akin, Albuquerque, New Mexico; fourteen grandchildren, thirty-one great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren; and special friend, Johanna McMahon, Beattie, Kan. Memorials may be left in memory of Martin to Nemaha County Home Health and Hospice or the Axtell United Methodist Church. Contributions may be sent in care of the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Martin J. Akin, please visit our flower store.