1940 - 2024
Martha "Marty" Kientz was born on June 23, 1940 in Marshfield, Missouri, and she took her last breath on January 30, 2024. She grew up in Marshfield, along with seven siblings. After graduating high school in Marshfield, Marty went to college in nearby Springfield, Missouri on a scholarship. She was smart, and passionate about a meaningful career. For most of her working life, Marty worked as a contracting officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in their Denver office, and she worked in the field on several disasters across the US.
While in college, Marty met the love of her life, Earl Kientz, on a blind date. Marty and Earl were married in Marshfield on September 1, 1962, and enjoyed over 61 years together. They lived in Kansas, Texas, California and Illinois before settling in Colorado, where they lived for most of their life together. At the time of her death, Marty lived in Longmont near her daughter Susan, after many years in Littleton and Aurora. Marty loved her caregivers, the staff and the friends she made at AltaVita Assisted Living.
Marty and Earl had two daughters, Susan and Sonja, who have both gone on to build their own families and lives, and were always a great source of pride and joy for Marty.
Marty loved frogs, angel food cake with strawberries AND vanilla ice cream, winning at card games, numbers, a witty comeback, a funny joke and a good laugh, big hugs, pretending to be the Grinch at Christmas, and most of all her grandsons.
Marty was preceded in death by her parents and her seven closest siblings (Lillian (Connie), Faustina (Tina), Lewie, Clifford (Gene), Joan, Nancy and William (Bill)). She is survived by her loving husband Earl, her daughters Susan (Khayrollah) Taherkhani and Sonja (Derek) Kassebaum, her grandsons Joshua Taherkhani and Noah Taherkhani, three half-sisters, many nieces and nephews, and great friends.
Marty wished to be cremated, and that no service be held, and her family has honored her request. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Denver Kids in Marty’s memory. Donations can be made by mail to Denver Kids, 780 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203 or online at https://www.denverkids.org/get-involved#donate and more information is available at https://www.denverkids.org. Marty was always an advocate for education, and taking care of those less fortunate than her, especially young people.
