Martin L. Gerbens

MARTIN L. GERBENS OF DELPHI, INDIANA DIED FROM CANCER WHILE STAYING IN THE HOME OF HIS COUSIN, DE ETTA KONING OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA.   HE WAS THE SON OF JETSE AND GEORGIA (BLAKE) GERBENS.  MARTIN GRADUATED FROM LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL IN 1963.  HE RECEIVED HIS B.A. IN FINE ARTS FROM PURDUE UNIVERSITY, WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA IN 1969. M.F.A. PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL, WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA IN 1974.  AND   M.L.I.S., INDIANA UNIVERSITY, GRADUATE SCHOOL, BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA.

HE SERVED AS CURATOR OF OCEANIA AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS FROM 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER, 2006 (CONCURRENTLY ACTING DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, NORTHERN MARIANAS COLLEGE ON THE ISLAND OF SAIPAN.   AS PART OF HIS TENURE, HE ELICITED AND PROCURED A COMMITMENT FROM THE BANK OF HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI TO ESTABLISH AND FUND A SPECIAL COLLECTION COMPRISED OF 17TH THROUGH 19TH CENTURY EUROPEAN EXPLORATION MAPS AND LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS AND SCENES.  MARTIN REPRESENTED THE COLLEGE ON A BOARD CONSISTING OF MEMBERS OF BOTH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE COMMONWEALTH VISITORS AUTHORITY.   TUTORED CONVERSATION ENGLISH FOR STUDENTS OF PRIMARILY KOREAN AND CHINESE DESCENT.  AT THE INVITATION OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE  MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. W.W.II MUSEUM.

MARTIN IS SURVIVED BY HIS SISTERS; MRS. SUE ELLEN CHILDES (TOM), MS. MARILOU STEELE AND MRS. KATHLEEN CHAMPION (JOE).  HE IS ALSO SURVIVED BY FOUR NIECES AND TWO NEPHEWS. 

HE WAS PREDECEASED BY BOTH OF HIS PARENTS AND ONE NEPHEW.

HIS FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SPECIAL MENTION OF TWO OF HIS DEAREST FRIENDS FROM CHINA, PETER AND ELISHA.  MARTIN CONSIDERED CHINA AS HIS SECOND HOME AND TRULY LOVED HIS CHINESE FAMILY , INCLUDING THE BEAUTY AND TRADITIONS OF THIS COUNTRY.

AT HIS REQUEST, THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE HELD.