Nancy Ann Martinek

Nancy Ann (Frey) Martinek, 95, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, at her home in Las Cruces, NM.

She was born on July 30, 1929, in Silver Lake, KS. As the youngest of four daughters of Fred and Marie (Leep) Frey, she grew up on her family’s farm near her beloved cousins.

Nancy graduated from Silver Lake High School, where she met the man who would become her husband, Robert “Bob” Martinek of Silver Lake. They were married on April 16, 1950, in Topeka. Over the next several years, Nancy and Bob moved to Albuquerque, NM, while Bob was stationed there during his Air Force service, and later to Lawrence, KS, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Math at the University of Kansas on the GI Bill. Eventually, they returned to Albuquerque for 10 years, moved briefly to Thousand Oaks, CA, and finally settled in Las Cruces, NM. During this time, they welcomed two children: a daughter, Mona, and a son, Jay.

Dearly loved by her family and many friends, Nancy was an avid gardener who grew beautiful roses, irises, and daisies in her backyard. She enjoyed creating beautiful things through sewing, quilting, needlework, cooking, and decorating, enriching the lives of her family and friends. Additionally, Nancy was exceptionally skilled at solving various types of puzzles, including crosswords, word searches, Sudoku, cryptoquips, and jigsaw puzzles, and she loved playing bridge.

Nancy and Bob were avid bowlers for over 50 years. Through their league play and as youth coaches, they traveled to multiple states for tournaments and developed a vast network of friends whom they cherished. When not bowling, they enjoyed traveling with family and friends, visiting countries such as Spain, Morocco, Germany, England, Scotland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, as well as taking cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, and along the Rhine River.

Family, friends, and fun were the cornerstones of Nancy and Bob’s lives together. They were honored with a surprise 50th wedding anniversary party hosted by some of their dear bowling friends and neighbors. Family and friends, including many from out of state, lined the neighborhood streets, driveways, and backyards of their hosts to celebrate Nancy and Bob. This heartfelt outpouring of love reflected the affection they selflessly gave to others throughout their lives.

Nancy is survived by her daughter, Mona Martinek of West Lafayette, IN; her son, Jay Martinek

(Verena) of Schwalbach, Germany; her grandchildren, Sean, Samantha, and Macy Martinek of Schwalbach, Germany; and her nieces and nephews.

Her family wishes to thank her most recent amazing home caregivers – Shelley, Elvira, Kayley, Rachael, Olivia, Grace, Mercedes, Emily; and early on Stephanie, Jordan, Tracy, Natalie, Maria. They enriched her life and helped with her every need when dementia confined her to her home.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Martinek; her parents, Fred and Marie Frey; her sisters, Donna Neuner, Margie Pitman Walton, and Betty Mack; her brothers-in-law, John Neuner, William Pitman, and James Mack; her nephews, Jeffrey Pitman and Ronald Pitman; and her niece, Linda Hock.

Services are at Getz Funeral Home Monday, March 31, 2025; visitation at 10:30am, service at 11:30am.

Visitation at Parker-Price Davidson Funeral Home in Topeka, KS Friday, April 4, 2025 10am, graveside service and burial at Prairie Home Cemetery Topeka, KS at 11:30am.