Martin Ray Gohlke, 66, was wrapped in the arms of Jesus on December 1, 2023 in Abilene, TX with his family at his bedside following a short battle with dementia.
Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Friday, December 8, 2023 at Hamil Family Funeral home in Abilene.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 10:00 am at Daugherty Street Church of Christ in Eastland, TX. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Ranger, TX. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home.
Martin was born on August 14, 1957 in Galveston, TX to Luther Ray Gohlke and Patricia Ann (Broyles) Gohlke. Martin was the oldest of five children and the only son. At an early age, Martin and his family moved to Ranger, TX where his father was the county doctor and mother was a homemaker. Martin grew up loving to hunt, fish, and play sports. As everyone knows, Martin was a tall individual, a “gentle giant”! Martin was recruited by Abilene Christian University to play basketball. While in college, Martin met the love of his life, Carla Willis. They married in May of 1978. Together, Martin and Carla had three sons, Chad (41), Seth (38), and Cody (36). Martin spent the majority of his adult life working at his lumber yard in Ranger. He then worked for Sysco Foods in Abilene as a sales rep. Once all three boys graduated high school, Martin and Carla moved back to Ranger to be close to his dad and took over the cattle ranch where he loved spending time and taking his grandkids out to see the cows. In 2018, Martin was voted in as Eastland County Commissioner for Precinct 2. Martin had a wonderful love for Christ and served as a Deacon or Elder in all four of the churches he was a member of. To Martin, his wife and children (and cows) were everything. Martin coached all of his children’s sports teams growing up and was always there to root them on at their high school and college games. Martin’s life was cut too short with a diagnosis of Frontal Lobe Dementia in 2020. The last three years of Martin’s life were met with all of the challenges of dementia which ultimately led to his passing.
Martin is preceded in death by his father and mother.
Martin is survived by wife Carla; son Chad and wife Kasey, son Seth and wife Christy, and son Cody and wife Rachel; sisters Carrie Teaff and husband Steve, Greta Stephens and husband Greg, Amy Gohlke, and Lori Edgar and husband Kenny; grandchildren Brailey, Sadie, Ella, Andi, Addie, Cooper, Grayson, Remie, Joseph, Maudie, and Chapel Martin; sister-in-law’s, Cynthia Willis, Ann Willis, and Jeanie Willis; as well as two aunts, an uncle, and many cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Pallbearers will be Chad Gohlke, Seth Gohlke, Cody Gohlke, Steve Teaff, Greg Stephens, Kenny Edgar, Rip Willis, Kelly Willis, and Joe Scott; Junior pallbearers will be Cooper Gohlke, Grayson Gohlke, Joseph Gohlke, and Chapel Gohlke; Honorary pallbearer will be Roy Wade Willis.
The family of Martin Gohlke would like to thank Mesa Springs Healthcare Center, Northern Oaks Living and Rehabilitation, and Hendrick Hospice Care for taking such amazing care of Martin in his last years and days.
