Roger Martin Obituary

Roger Paul Martin of Lawrence died August 26, 2022 from complications related to Parkinson's Disease. He was born August 31,1946 in St. Louis, MO to Esther and Arthur Martin. His parents and only sibling, Robert, preceded Roger in death. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Yoder; a sister-in-law, Carol Martin; the extended Yoder-Jensen-Dutton family; his fellow seekers at Peace Mennonite; and a world of friends.

Roger worked 25 years at the University of Kansas as a research reporter/writer/editor. He founded Explore, an award-winning research magazine, and wrote commentaries about KU research for Kansas Public Radio. Roger was highly regarded for his ability to make complex scientific research accessible to lay audiences. Roger completed his career in the early 2000s as director of communications at both Kansas Action for Children and Kansas Health Institute in Topeka.

Roger is known for a wide breadth of publications, including Cows Are Freaky When They Look at You: An Oral History of the Kaw Valley Hemp Pickers, co-edited with David Ohle and Susan Brosseau (Watermark Press,1991); and A Doubter's Guide to God, (Woodley Press, 2016). Roger's essays appear in Echoes from the Prairie (Great Plains Writers Group, 2013) and in newspapers and magazines. From 1973 to 1985, Roger and David Ohle published an underground newspaper, The City Moon. The Roger Martin Collection is housed at the Spencer Research Library at KU.

A visitation is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 PM Tuesday, August 30 at Peace Mennonite Church, 615 Lincoln in north Lawrence, and a memorial service will be held at 7 pm, August 31 at First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Drive. The service will be live streamed on the First Baptist Church (Lawrence) YouTube channel. Donations in Roger's memory may be made to Peace Mennonite Church, The United Negro College Fund, or Kansas Public Radio.