Gregg William Martin

Gregg William Martin, age 52, of Benton, IL, passed away on Saturday, January 1, 2022, in Buckeye, Arizona.  He was born on May 10, 1969, to Robert William Gesink and Sheryl Ione Todd Martin in Frederick, MD.  He attended Blue Valley High School in Kansas graduating class of 1988; then furthered his education at Goodland Technical School and Colby Junior College obtaining a degree in cell phone technology.  He later graduated from Calvary Chapel Bible College in 2003.   He married September Dreyer in 1990.  Gregg worked in the cell phone business for 30 years. 

He entered heaven on the evening of January 1, 2022.  He battled brain cancer for 7 years.  His passing was peaceful, his suffering has ended and he is now with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  His family is relieved that his struggle on this earth is done and that he is, once again, walking tall with a long stride and a booming voice that all the heavens can hear!

Gregg had a huge heart and loved people.  He was gregarious and lived life to the fullest.  He worked in many states and made friends wherever he went.  He was the kind of friend everyone wants – he was the first one there whenever anyone needed help, bringing a hammer, a saw or just his big strong arms and an even bigger smile.

He not only had an amazing technical mind (rebuilding computers in his spare time), he was also a great carpenter (remodeling every home he lived in and building extraordinary playgrounds for kids).  He was an avid hunter and fed his family on venison every year.  He only hunted for food but if the deer happened to have large antlers, that was a plus.  He loved the outdoors – hiked Longs Peak (14,000 ft) with son Andrew, swung out over the Royal Gorge with his kids, camped with family and friends, attended time trials of Indy 500 with his dad, worked and traveled with his mom and brought her flowers all the time because she loved them.

But the most important thing about Gregg was his faith in Jesus.  During the last 7 years when his life turned upside down with brain tumors and a stroke, he held fast to God’s word and to the life he would have in heaven.  His perseverance was seen by all and he was an inspiration to everyone who knew him.  He always encouraged others and talked even to strangers about Jesus. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Benton, Il and also attended Southern Range Cowboy Church in Goreville, Il.

 Gregg is survived by his loving parents, Robert Gesink and Sheryl (Dan) Martin; a daughter Rene (Brandon) Leever, son Andrew Martin, step-daughter Madison Carlson, two grandchildren Lana and Tristan Leever, a foster daughter Samantha Wolfer, sister Kelly (Chris)  Reynolds, nieces and nephew Regan, Riley and Luke Reynolds, his grandmother Ione Todd,  and many other loving family and friends.

At this time there is no funeral service scheduled but the family will be laying Gregg to rest next to his Grandpa Todd in Goodland, KS this summer.  A specific date will be posted later.

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