Martin Bornemann

Martin Frederick Bornemann, 92, of Mandan, ND passed away due to complications from a stroke on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at St. Vincent’s Care Center, Bismarck, ND. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, September 1 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Mandan with Rev. Kevin Zellers presiding. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Burial will take place after the luncheon at 1:30 PM at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in New Salem.

Honorary pallbearers are grandchildren: Jarett Opp; Allison (Opp) Grosz; Mara Bornemann, Aubrey Bornemann, and Evan Bornemann.

Martin Bornemann was born October 19, 1933, in Oliver County, ND, the son of Henry F. and Emma (Hintz) Bornemann. He was baptized and confirmed at St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Hannover, ND. Martin attended school through the eighth grade in Hannover, ND.

On November 9, 1962, Martin married Verna Bethke at the Zion Lutheran Church, New Salem, ND. Together they farmed on the family farm northwest of Center along the banks of the Square Butte Creek. They raised one daughter, Jennifer, and one son, Leonard. Martin started working off the farm for CEDA starting in 1988, doing industrial hydro-blasting for various electric power plants and oil refineries in the upper Midwest. Martin logged lots of miles in his time with the company and loved driving and operating a variety of trucks.

Martin and Verna moved to Edgewood Vista in Mandan in 2017. After a lifetime of hard work, Martin enjoyed watching the MN Twins and Gunsmoke, reading the paper, Edgewood Vista group road trips, going out for burgers or German food, riding the exercise bike daily, attending church, visiting with family, and playing games of either pool, marbles, cornhole or Wii bowling with his Edgewood resident buddies as well as some of the staff members. Martin also took great pride in taking care of the flowers on the Edgewood patio. Martin was known at Edgewood as “The Energizer Bunny”. Always up for playing a game or helping with something. Martin’s oldest nephew, Dwight Reuther, is a true blessing to Martin and Verna. Dwight and Shelly made their moving to “town” much more tolerable by getting Martin and Verna out and about as often as he could. Another blessing in their lives were special friends, Vern and Renae Hogarth, who gave them many rides to church on Sundays.

Martin is survived by his wife, Verna, of almost 64 years and their children: Jennifer (Leland) Opp of Hazen, ND, and Leonard (LeAnn) Bornemann of Center, ND; grandchildren: Jarett Opp (Megan McCabe); Allison (Clint) Grosz and Great Grand-Baby Grosz (due this winter); Mara (Nick) Bornemann, Aubrey (Noah) Bornemann, and Evan Bornemann; sister, Esther Bornemann, Beulah, ND; sister-in-law, Marlyn (Letzring) Bornemann, Napoleon, ND; brother-in-law, Marvin Bethke, New Salem, ND; numerous nieces and nephews; and all of Martin’s Edgewood Vista neighbors, friends and the Edgewood Vista staff.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings and their spouses, Norma (Preston) Beckman; Verna (Herbert) Reuther; Earl Bornemann; Lorence (Shirley) Bornemann; Elaine (Norman) Yeager; parents-in-law Fred and Adeline (Lange) Bethke; sisters-in-law Deloris Kuch, Marilyn Klatt, and Arlene (Bueligen) Bethke; and brothers-in-law Robert Bethke and George Kuch.

Martin will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend with deep faith, a huge heart and compassion for everyone. Martin was most proud of his children and grandchildren. To the very end, he always told his family and friends that he counted his many blessings every day. Words of wisdom we should all live by.