Paul Jay Martin Jr., age 57, of Freeborn, died Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006, at his residence in Freeborn. Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Freeborn United Church of Christ. The Rev. Cherie Daniel will officiate. Visitation is one hour prior to services at the church.

Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is in charge of arrangements.

Honorary casket bearers are Gene Millang of Freeborn, Denney Sorensen of Albert Lea, Gary (Hoops) Sipple of Albert Lea, Larry Fennert of Waldorf, Louie (Bronco) Mortenson of New Richland and Mark Savick of Freeborn.

Paul Jay Martin Jr. was born Feb. 19, 1949, the son of Paul Jay Martin Sr. and Ida Mae (Clark) Martin, in Lawrence, Kan. Paul was raised in Eudora, Kan., where he graduated from Eudora High School in 1967. Paul was married to Linda (Klein) Martin and they had two children. Paul worked for Controlled Demolition Inc. (CDI) in Baltimore, Mass., an explosives demolition company.

Traveling nationwide, he assisted in numerous project &8220;implosions&8221; in Chicago, Ill., Cleveland, Ohio, Kansas City, Kan., and the memorable The Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Okla. He most recently worked for Gopher State Rail Division in Mankato assisting with cleaning up train wrecks. He was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles. Paul enjoyed playing basketball with his brother in his younger days at home and school, woodworking as well as fishing.

Paul is survived by two children: daughter, Wendy (Martin) Thompkins of Chillicothe, Mo., and one son, Randy Martin of Schwollen, Germany (U. S. Army Iraq); two grandchildren: Chandler Thompkins of Chillicothe, Mo., and Jaden Martin of Schwollen, Germany; one brother: Frank and his wife Joyce Martin of Garnett, Kan.; one sister: Pauline Martin of Beatty, Kan.; several nieces and nephews; and special friends Elizabeth Avey of Marshall, Mo., and Tina Worman and her family of Hale, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents.