2/23/1981 – 3/21/2024
Lawrence, KS
Jeremy Wayne Martin took his last breath, in this life, in his dad’s loving arms on the evening of March 21, 2024 at KU Medical Center. In his final hours he was surrounded by the love of many family members.
His father Larry wants people to know how much he learned from Jeremy about how things work and how to succeed in general. He admires him for how he lived and for how he died. Jeremy rarely complained, and we now know how much pain and discomfort he was living with. He trusted his dad and they had each other’s back to the end. Larry had the honor to hold his hand, look him in the eyes, and hold his head while his breathing slowed. It was as peaceful as you can imagine. He squeezed Larry’s hand in response to things Larry was telling him. His brother Tyler and his Mom Linda were there at his bedside, and after his last breath his parents were able to hold him a while longer.
Jeremy was born on a Monday morning, February 23, 1981 in Lawrence, KS at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He had big brown eyes and curly brown hair. Everyone agreed when he was born that he looked just like his dad.
As a child his extraordinary intelligence quickly became apparent. He loved building with Lego, his famous collections of odds and ends, and he loved to read. He was an extremely talented musician, and played clarinet and bassoon throughout his school career. He attended Lawrence High School and was also in the first graduating class at Free State High School in 1999. He marched in the marching band for both the Lawrence Lions and Free State Firebirds.
Jeremy married his childhood friend Retta Gates on October 25, 2009. They moved to Colorado together in 2014 and bought a house near the top of a mountain (much to his visiting family’s equal terror and delight) in Evergreen, CO, with a bird’s eye view of Mount Blue Sky, formerly known as Mount Evans. Jeremy and Retta later divorced in December of 2019.
Jeremy did not have children, but he was devoted to his dog Magee, a 240 lb English Bull Mastiff with a brindle coat. The love between them was palpable, and Magee was by Jeremy’s side at every possible moment. Magee won the heart of anyone who met him with his gentle demeanor, astounding size, and good manners. We all understood he couldn’t help the drool.
Always working hard, Jeremy had a varied and successful work career, ranging from his first job working fast food, to his last job at Delinea, where he had risen to the top of his profession as a manager and software development engineer. His job involved protecting huge corporations as an anti-hacker, until his health declined in 2024. He was a respected and well-loved employee, who always tried to help his fellow colleagues when in need.
Jeremy dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his interests and hobbies, loved learning new things, and could be counted on to have done the work of research and education on any topic that interested him. From caring for his dog Magee, to his knowledge of computers, traveling, target shooting, speaker systems, or living in the mountains of Colorado, Jeremy knew his stuff. He had a deep appreciation for music (especially electronic music), frequently attended live concerts, and was committed to discovering new and upcoming artists and helping them gain exposure. He loved good food, candy of all kinds, dressing in bright colors, and painting his nails blue.
His family is heartbroken that he was failed at every turn by so many institutions that were put in place specifically to help people in his situation. From the physical healthcare system, to the mental healthcare system, to the legal system, his family fought a losing battle at every step of the way to get him the help he needed and deserved so badly, and never received, until it was too late.
Jeremy is survived by his father Larry Martin of Lawrence, his mother Linda Martin of Lawrence, his brother Tyler of Colombia, MO, his dog Magee, and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal and fraternal grandparents, and his uncle Max Martin.
Per Jeremy’s request, a private family celebration of life will happen at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made through Rumsey-Yost and will be donated to Friends of Charlie’s Place in Dumont, CO. Friends of Charlie’s Place is a companion animal rescue shelter that has fostered Magee throughout Jeremy’s illness and has helped him find a new loving forever home.
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