Mart Elbert Atkinson, 94
Graveside funeral services for Mart Elbert Atkinson, 94, of Excelsior Springs, were held Oct.xq 28, 2024, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Excelsior Springs.
He died, surrounded by loved ones, on Oct. 17.
Mart was born Sept. 3, 1930, to Oscar and Audie (Wells) Atkinson in Elijah. Mart was the youngest of six children growing up in Bakersfield. He graduated from Bakersfield High School.
Mart began working at a young age, first during the summer wheat harvest in Texas, then north into Kansas, a short period as a lumberjack in Colorado and later worked at several businesses in Excelsior Springs including the Elms Hotel and the Marietta Drug Store. Eventually he made his way to Salina, Kansas, to work as a carpenter with an older brother. While there he met his future bride, Delphine Deschner. They married on Dec. 30, 1950, and their 73 years of marriage were blessed with love and five children.
Mart served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict as a tank instructor at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and after his discharge he eventually settled the family in Excelsior Springs, where he built many homes and also constructed the original Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. In the mid 60s his business focus became Atkinson Plumbing Company, and in the following decades Mart was utilized by numerous builders for plumbing new construction of the housing developments that were part of the area’s growth.
Mart held a variety of community roles and sat on various boards for the city. He was an Elder and served numerous positions at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.
Mart loved road trips and took many trips with his wife, family and friends traveling to all 48 contiguous states. Even in his final days, he enjoyed going for car rides or hearing about travel adventures of his children and grandchildren and looking through photos of trips. He enjoyed watching the grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sports and was often their biggest cheerleader. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren are blessed to have fond memories playing card games with him and, if lucky, a rare chance of beating him at dominoes.
Mart was dedicated to his family and was quick to help anyone. He will be remembered as a friendly caring individual who treated others as he would want to be treated. His hearty laugh and warm smile will be forever missed.
Mart is survived by his five children: son Kenneth Atkinson of Excelsior Springs, son Ron (Debby) Atkinson of Norman, Oklahoma, daughter Linda (Jody) Pasalich of Excelsior Springs, son Roger (Elvie) Atkinson of Kansas City, Missouri, and daughter Marla (Phillip) Broadbent of Lawson; 11 grandchildren: Rachel, Shane, Heather, Nathan, Amanda, Jesse, Kent, Tina, BJ, Mason and Rolvie; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Mart was preceded in death by his beloved wife Delphine; his parents Oscar and Audie Atkinson; sisters Dona Ingle and Opal Bartram; brothers Lloyd, Noble and Ray; and one grandson Brandon Warren.