Lynn E. Martin

Lynn/Dad/Papa spent each day surrounded by family and friends. He had no FOMO or bucket list, because he never missed a party, dance, or trip… and he was always up for an adventure!

Lynn was born to Margarete and Merle Martin. He grew up on a farm near Hillsdale, Kansas and spent many days and nights working for the family milk delivery company.

He graduated from Paola High School where he served his senior year as Class President. While there, he met his lifelong best friend, Fred Latto (and wonderful wife, Shari). They reveled in traveling, lake time, shenanigans, and an outlandish series of matching golf outfits.

Lynn attended most of the colleges and junior colleges in eastern Kansas for a semester … or so. He graduated from Emporia State University with an accounting degree and would have been a pretty good CPA, but that was not his calling. Fortunately, he went on to graduate from Washburn University Law School which allowed him to dedicate his professional life to assisting folks in their most difficult times.

During his time at Emporia State, Lynn met his saint-of-a-wife, Carol. They had one son, Scott, and three amazing grandchildren, Haley, Holly, and Zane.

After law school, Lynn served as the Miami County Attorney for four years. He then opened his private practice working in many areas of law, including criminal, civil, family law, corporate, and trust and estate matters. While most clients paid in traditional currency, for those clients in a spot, he was also happy to accept vegetables from the garden, vehicles, TVs, goats, and even a few pigs!

His most infamous client, Thomas Lamb, never paid a nickel, but Lynn took the case after the convicted criminal’s mom showed up at the law office with a last-ditch plea for assistance… and a plate of cookies. Her son had been convicted of kidnapping and murder, but somehow that was not why she wanted assistance. “Thomas” desired to become “Michelle” (legally and biologically) and the State of Kansas had no inclination to accommodate that request. (The full story is included in Lynn’s memoir, “Rough Times”, and the Kansas Law Journal.)

Lynn and Carol traveled across America and around the world when paper maps, phrase books, Spanish language records, traveler’s checks, and a sheepish smile were the tools of the trade. They made their way on planes, gliders, buses, trains, stick shift cars, sailboats, cruise ships, hot air balloons, dune buggies, and a couple of donkeys. Lynn and Carol ultimately visited all 50 states and 60+ countries.

During one miraculous sailing trip to the British Virgin Islands, Papa led the grandchildren on a successful journey after they found a hidden treasure map in an ancient book. Ultimately, the map led them to buried pirate booty on the original Treasure Island!

Over the years, Lynn somehow mostly walked… and a couple of times ran… away from a harrowing series of bicycle, car, motorcycle, four-wheeler, and airplane wrecks! He and his good friend, Joe Moreland, also weathered the actual “Hurricane Lynn” when it hit the Virgin Islands.

Lynn credits the 1966 massive tornado which hit Topeka and destroyed the Washburn University Law School with saving his academic career. He is pretty sure that he had failed the spring semester exams (which would have resulted in expulsion) but the tornado erased the results which allowed him a second chance to improve his study habits and test taking skills.

Lynn selflessly shared his talents. He patiently taught countless children and adults how to water ski, snow ski, and sail. For many years, he personified Santa Claus in delivering the joy and wonder of Christmas to the children of Lakemary Academy and the residents of every nursing home in town. He also funded college and trade school tuitions for decades for folks who could not afford it.

He never “danced like no one was watching.” But he did spend a lifetime dancing like everyone was watching… and that was usually true. Lynn and Carol were accomplished polka aficionados but their joy on the dance floor extended to every genre. During a trip last summer to Alaska, Lynn skipped a few hikes and mostly walked with a cane, but he surprised everyone when he showed up late at night at a concert. As he told Zane, “You can’t be too tired to dance.”

In his late 50’s, Lynn also excelled in a brief… but intensely memorable career as a tap dancer. What he lacked in technical skills was overshadowed by his pure joy and exuberance! To this day, his dance instructor, Nancy Oliver, swears that in her decades of dance, she has “never seen anything quite like it.”

He loved his cars. His favorites included a 1948 Dodge limousine with jump seats and suicide doors, a 1948 Nash Metropolitan, a 1972 Cadillac limousine (with and without the Texas longhorns), and a 1982 Excalibur.

He was also a huge motorcycle fan from classic Indians, Harley hogs, and the biggest Kawasaki ever made. When he walked into the house and exclaimed, “Guess what?”, the answer was evident in his windblown hair and the bugs in his crooked grin. “I got a new motorcycle!”

In a private moment in December of last year, while in the hospital, Lynn shared his truest thought to the love of his life: “I don’t know if I deserved to have someone as wonderful as you.”

Cheers to a life well-lived! “Wow! What a ride!”

Lynn was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Wayne (Patsy) and Gene (Beverly), and half-sister, Barbara.

Lynn is survived by Carol, his bride of 60 years, son, Scott (Elizabeth), grandchildren, Haley (Alec Crampton), Holly (Matt Howerton), and Zane; practically nephew and niece, Kenneth Latto (Michelle) and Kristen Beerman (Ben); and numerous sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews; extended family, golf partners, and sailing buddies.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, July 3, 2026, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 501 E Chippewa St, Paola, KS 66071, followed by a celebration of a life well-lived at the VFW in Paola.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Angel Flight Central, in Kansas City ( Angel Flight Central - Donate they arrange free flights for health care for kids and adults), mail to 10 NW Richards Rd. Kansas City, MO 64116, or a charity of your choice.

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