Phillip Allen Martinson

January 29, 1926 - February 10, 2020

Phillip Allen Martinson, 94, of Fort Dodge, died on Monday, February 10, 2020, at Journeys Memory Care Neighborhood of Friendship Haven. Following cremation, visitation will be Saturday, February 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Tompkins Celebration Center at Friendship Haven. A service honoring Phillip’s life follow at 11:00 a.m. in the Tompkins Celebration Center. Family interment services with military honors presented by V.F.W. Post No. 1856 and the United States Navy will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services. He is survived by his son Craig Martinson (Roberta) of Central City, daughter Marilyn Charon (Bret) of Humboldt; grandchildren Alicia Clayton of Des Moines, Adam Charon (Lindsay) of SanTan Valley, Arizona, and Ingrid Martinson of Cedar Rapids, and six great grandchildren, Maci and Mason Charon, Major Clayton, Braxton, Hunter, and Paisley Charon. He was preceded in death by his wife Evon, father Albert Martinson, mother Mabel Castner Martinson, step-mother Marion Lepley Martinson, brothers, Gordon and James Martinson, and sister Eloise Locke. Phil was born January 29, 1926 in Harcourt, Iowa. Growing up he was involved in raising cattle to show at the Webster County Fair, the Cattle Congress in Waterloo, and Iowa State Fair, getting blue ribbons each year. Phil attended Harcourt School and graduated in 1943. Upon graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard a destroyer in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Upon discharge he attended Rankin Trade School in St. Louis, then attended and graduated from Iowa State University. He served as an instructor and administrator at Iowa Central Community College for twenty-five years. He was instrumental in helping to develop many of the vocational technical courses at the college. He married Evon Kelly in 1948. They lived in Fort Dodge until their retirement in 1988. They moved to a lake home near Longville, Minnesota, living there ten years before moving back to Fort Dodge in 1998. Phil was a long-time member and state president of the Iowa Vocational Assoc., member of the Noon Rotary Club, The American Legion, First United Methodist Church, Lakeside Golf Course, Friends of the Library and VFW. He was an avid golfer, liked to read, and enjoyed bird watching. His love for fine woods kept him busy building furniture for all members of his family. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family