Jeffrey D. Martens, Vice President of Operations, Passes Away

Jeffrey D. Martens, Vice President of Operations for Diggers Hotline, lost his six month battle with lung cancer on On December 30, 2003.

Jeff came to Diggers Hotline in April of 1993 after working many years at PTI (now Century Telephone).  While at PTI, Jeff worked his way up through the ranks, starting with drop burial, then cable repair, cable locating, and eventually becoming a supervisor.  Jeff joined Diggers Hotline as the Manager of Special Projects and was selected to replace the retiring Harlan Schultz as Vice President in 1997.

Jeff took great pride in working for Diggers Hotline, as well as all the member companies.  He believed strongly in the importance of calling before you dig and worked tirelessly to make the one call process better for facility owners and excavators.

Jeff is survived by his loving wife Lynn, and 4 beautiful daughters, Haley (age 12), Courtney (age 9), Emily (age 7), and Allison (age 8 months).  Here is a link to an article that ran in the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel.  The article gives an insight into Jeff the family man, the Packer fan, the community-minded man who served as Palmyra Village President and Fire Chief, and unfortunately, a man that had to endure the horrific abuse of his infant daughter at the hands of a day care worker while fighting for his own life.

So while all of us grieve the loss of a friend, we must also take time to remember that a family lost one of the rocks it was built upon.  Jeff’s wife Lynn has set up a memorial fund, in honor of Jeff, for the college funds of his 4 girls.  Any assistance you might be able to provide to this fund would be greatly appreciated by not only the family, but all of us here at Diggers Hotline.

Donations can be sent to:

Jeff Martens’ Children Fund

c/o Palmyra State Bank

P.O. Box 159

Palmyra, WI  53156

Thank you for your time, and as always, if there is anything the staff at Diggers Hotline can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact us.