In Memory of Harold E. Martens

Harold and I were married on Aug. 11, 2007. I lost my loving husband to death by a drunk driver that shouldn’t have been on the road.  Drunk drivers need to see the torture and pain the family goes through when they lose their loved one.

My husband was working for his family, not bothering anyone, minding his own business and doing his job.

There was a drunk driver making a choice to drink and drive; whereas my husband didn’t have a choice in the matter. But he lost his life because of a bad choice the drunk driver made.

I pray and hope that anyone drinking might think twice before getting into a vehicle to drive.  It might save the life of another person.

My husband and I would have been married four years this August.  Harold was a sweet and loving husband, stepfather, grandfather, brother, son and friend. He was a humble man and was compassionate and understanding of other people’s feelings.  He was serious about all of his vows, such as marriage and his love for his creator and God, Jehovah.  Harold promised to love and to cherish me forever and ever, and he did that right to the end.

During the short time that Harold spent on earth, he touched a lot of people’s hearts and was loved by people and they showed their love back to Harold.

He was liked by his boss and his co-workers.  He was honest and a hard worker.

This is the hardest thing that his wife and his loved ones have had to deal with.  He loved to build, and looking around our home at all the things he made, and seeing his smiling face in our pictures, reminds me of the terrible loss that I must endure forever to my end.

My goal is to continue on serving our God, Jehovah, and to be there to welcome him back into my arms when Jesus calls the dead to life (John 5:28, 29) and then to life on Paradise Earth where death, pain and sorrow will be no more (Revelations 21: 3, 4).

I would like to thank all of our family and friends for all of their prayers and phone calls, and for what you have done for me as I suffer my loss of a loving husband and best friend. Harold was the love of my life and now part of me is gone because of someone’s bad choice to drink and drive.

I know Harold would be proud to know that even as I am suffering the loss of losing him, that I was willing to take the time that I might save someone else’s life.  Please be careful the next time you get into a vehicle.  Think not only of yourself, but of everyone else on the road. It might be you or your loved ones that suffer this tragic loss.

At 4:30 a.m. on April 26, 2011, my last words spoken on the phone were “I love you, please be careful.” You never know. Please read Ecclesiastes 9:11, because my husband sure did not expect this.  Please don’t wish later you hadn’t made a choice to drink and drive. If your choice is to drink, stay off the roads, please.

Nelda Jane Martens

High Springs