Celebration of Life
The Coeur d' Alene Resort-
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Email Details
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Coeur d' Alene, ID
Ian Martin
November 27, 1969 — April 7, 2018
Ian Martin
The Life of Ian Martin
Ian Martin was born in Portland, Oregon on November 27, 1969. His parents moved to Spokane in 1974, and settled in the Shadle area in North Spokane. He attended Browne Elementary, Glover Middle School, and graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1988. He met Sheri Campbell when he was 21, they married in August of 1997. They recently celebrated their 20-year anniversary. They have two children, Paige 17 and Cole 13, which he treasured and was so proud.
As a young child Ian was independent and a risk taker. He could swim across the pool and dive off high dives at the age of 3. He loved his big wheels, and riding his bike to school, even in Kindergarten, which was against school rules. He was persistent. His Mom, Mary Martin, would say that he “could sell you his dirty socks” as a child and convince you that you got a good deal. He was a builder. There were forts in every corner of the yard. He built a go cart all on his own. He was creative and wanted to be an architect when he grew up. He was athletic. He loved playing soccer and going to Oakland A’s games with his grandpa Vail. He also loved family trips to Yosemite and Jasper, Canada with his parents, John & Mary and younger brother Brian.
Ian’s family knew him as a wonderful and devoted husband and father. He was a source of abundant love, guidance, and adventure for his family. Ian would always light up when he talked of his family. His Facebook page mirrors this – a happy man who prioritized quality time with his loved ones. His actions would read like an affirmation calendar: “treat others as you want to be treated” “just do it” “be the change you want to see in the world” and “it is what it is”. We should all strive to be like Ian Martin. The families’ time together included skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, bike riding, golfing, wakesurfing, spending time on the water with friends, coaching Cole’s soccer games, watching Paige’s stomp recitals, watching both kids in Orchestra and Kenpo Karate, hiking, traveling, extended family dinners, BBQs and more. Ian invested himself 100 percent in family times, and he was always so proud and encouraging of his children by showing them the potential they could not see in themselves.
Ian was known by many as a respected and successful businessman. He was gregarious, and others soon perceived his intelligence and fine sense of humor. After being in the commercial flooring industry for more than 25 years, Ian was presented with an opportunity to work with Wholesale Floors in Phoenix, AZ, which developed into the opening of the Pacific Northwest branch in Spokane, WA. Throughout his career, Ian was very active in Starnet commercial flooring co-op and had the opportunity to serve on various committees and boards to help develop better business practices.
In September of 2008, Ian had a pulmonary embolism and was hospitalized for 8 days. He then decided to change his life. In the next 2 years, he lost more than 100 pounds and trained for a full Ironman which he finished in summer of 2010. Ian said, “This was one of the best things that happened to me. It gave me the push I needed”. Ian went on to do 2 full Ironman and 2 half Ironman triathlons and was chosen by lottery to compete in the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon which he also completed twice.
Ian often volunteered doing fundraisers for the Boys and Girls Club, a club designed to give children opportunities they may not have had otherwise. Some of the fundraising activities he organized included The Big Bike Adventure of 2011. Which was a bike ride from Coeur D’Alene to Jasper, Alberta, Canada in 4 days. In The Big Bike Adventure of 2012, he and 9 of his friends rode more than 600 miles in 24 hours, setting a Guiness Book of World Record for furthest distance traveled by bike in 24 hours. In his ‘spare’ time Ian helped organize two kids triathlons - the first year for the Boys and Girls Club and the second year with the Kroc Center joining in. That was Ian Martin!
Ian passed away unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism, in the early hours of April 7, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Sheri Martin; his daughter Paige and his son Cole; his parents, Mary and John Martin, Charles Collins; his brother, Brian Martin and wife Melanie Feeney, brother Collin, sister Sophia, and various aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Ians story has not ended. It will continue through his wife, children, parents, brother, family, friends and all the lives he has touched over the years.
In lieu of flowers please send a contribution to the Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County northidahobgc.org or by mail 925 N 15thStreet Coeur D’Alene, Idaho 83814
A Celebration of Ian’s Life will be held Monday, May 14, at the Coeur d’Alene Resort at 10 AM.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ian Martin, please visit our flower store.
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