Earl A. Martell, 81, of Goodland, Kan., died on June 2, 2008 in Hays, Kan.
He was born on April 25, 1927 in Crookston, Minn. When his father found employment at the Hormel company in Austin, the family moved to Austin. Earl went to school there and finished his education. He went to work at Hormel, and in 1944 he enlisted in the Navy for four years.
He attended Austin Junior College and then went to Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, graduating in 1964. Earl served congregations in Minnesota, Colorado and Kansas before retiring in 1989.
In his retirement years he enjoyed camping, fishing and pheasant hunting.
Survivors include his wife, Clarice; daughter, Judy (les) Sorenson; four sons, Edward (Julie), Rick (Carolyn), Arthur (Marilyn) and the Rev. Luther (Laurie) Marell; two brothers, LeRoy and Floyd; 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Services were held June 10, 2008 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Goodland, Kan.