Wallace Martin

Wallace Martin

A Joint Celebration of Life Service for Wallace R. "Wally" Martin, Randall "Bone" Franklin, Jr., and Justin Mason will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, with Pastor Kevin Lund, Pastor Murray Jones, and Mr. Ken Breinig officiating.

Wallace Randall "Wally" Martin, 67, of Holdrege, Neb., formerly of Naponee, Neb., passed away on August 15, 2025, in a tragic, fatal three-vehicle car accident near Funk. Wally was born on December 29, 1957, in Kearney, Neb., the one of seven children, born to Wallace Willard and Wilda Elaine (McFarland) Martin. He received his education from the Kearney Public Schools.

Following his education, Wally then began working for Store-More, building grain bins out of Kearney. On April 17, 1978, he was united in marriage to Jacqueline Sue Smith in Kearney, and together they were blessed with three children, Nathan, Jenny, and Randy. The family made their home in Naponee for the last 30 years, recently moving to Holdrege. Wally worked in construction for over 50 years. He was a jack-of-all-trades; there wasn't anything he couldn't fix!

He was an avid outdoorsman and "Master Angler" who loved fishing, hunting, camping, and being at the lake. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, playing pool and darts.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Nathan Martin; granddaughter, Taylor Martin; three siblings, Royal Martin, Clyde Martin, and Colene Schneller; four nephews, Joshua Tucker, Jeremy Martin, Randall Franklin, Jr., and Justin Mason; and brother-in-law, Dave Smith.

He leaves to celebrate his life, his wife, Jackie Martin of Holdrege; his children, Jenny Smiley and her husband, Mike of Holdrege and Randy Martin and his wife, Tammy of Kearney; eight grandchildren, Dely Norris, Kasiah Martin, Skyler Smiley, Starla Smiley, Sunny Smiley, Rylee Martin, Chloe Martin, and Natalee Martin; five great-grandchildren, Dely Norris, Jr., Gracelynn Chapman, Layla Tennant, Lileahna Smiley, and Bailynn Martin; his siblings, Rhonda Tucker and her husband, Rick of Kearney, Paul Martin of Kearney, and Henry Baker of Lincoln, Neb.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Beverly Roth and her husband, Ray of Kearney, Ronny Smith of Kearney, Doug Smith of Kearney, Vicki Franklin and her husband, Randy of Holdrege, Dolly Wendland of Odessa, and Nancy Zwink and her family of Kearney; along with many nieces and nephews, extended family members and friends.

There will not be a visitation, viewing, or memorial book signing the evening prior.

Memorials in Wally's memory are kindly suggested to the family.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.

NELSON-BAUER FUNERAL HOME